Misamis Occidental Province News February 2012

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DepEd, beneficiary of confiscated lumber from DENR checkpoints

by Pat Nano


OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental, Feb. 28 (PIA) -- The Department of Education (DepEd) will be among the first beneficiaries of the lumber confiscated by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

This assurance was given by Forester Clark Carbonilla, Chief of Forest Management Service in Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Ozamiz City, regarding the lumber that have been confiscated by the Philippine National Police in the province and in the city as well.

He said the confiscated items will never go to waste, especially those classified as the good lumber because it will be turned over to DepEd to be made into chairs, desks and so forth.

Carbonilla clarified that transporting logs without the proper documents would mean that the cutting of logs have been illegal and would require the logs to remain in their custody.

He said CENROs are given the task to dispose of the confiscated lumber as per administrative order signed by the regional office of the DENR. (PN-PIO/PIA 10 Mis. Occ.)






Mis. Occ. Provincial Gov’t vies for the DOH Red Orchid Awards

by Pat Nano


OROQUIETA CITY, Misamis Occidental, Feb. 27 (PIA) -- The provincial government of Misamis Occidental has been nominated for the Red Orchids Award of the Department of Health (DOH).

The awarding will be done in Manila during the World No Tobacco Day on May 31.

These institutions are the Department of Education (DepEd)-Misamis Occidental, the Misamis Occidental Provincial Hospital (MOPH), and the provincial government of Misamis Occidental.

Jun Galban, Jr. regional information officer of DOH-10, said the DOH-10 the Red Orchids Award is awarded to local government units, which may be composed of a province, city or municipality, government hospitals, government centers, and DOH Centers for Development that have a policy advocacy against smoking.

All nominees of the Red Orchid Awards will receive certificates of recognition with a specially designed trophy and a P100,000-worth of nicotine replacement therapy equipment to be used in their smoking cessation services, Galban said. (PN-PIO/PIA 10 Mis. Occ.)






Children’s Int’l Phil., Inc. donates medical supplies to Mis. Occ.

by Pat Nano


OROQUIETA CITY, Misamis Occidental, Feb. 24 (PIA) -- Another batch of assorted medicines and medical supplies was given by the Children’s International Philippines Inc., (CIPI) to the provincial government of Misamis Occidental.

Governor Herminia M. Ramiro said these items were divided and given to the eight public hospitals in the province to be used by the indigent patients who will be brought to their hospitals.

Together with the hospital supplies in-charge, the governor thanked CIPI since it no longer easy to request for medicines considering the very long process of procurement from the concerned offices of the Provincial Capitol, because it has also to pass the bidding process.

Provincial Administrator Ken Regalado also thanked CIPI for continuously donating to the province not only medicines but also wheelchairs, assorted medical supplies, and educational materials and books for children. (PN-PIO/PIA 10 Mis. Occ.)






P498-M Misamis Irrigation System Up

by MIKE U. CRISMUNDO


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – At least 2,123 farmer families in the two towns of Misamis Oriental are expected to benefit when the construction of the P498-million irrigation system will be completed.

Once completed, the irrigation system is also expected to increase the production of the thousands of farmers, not only in the towns of Balingasag and Lagonglong, but also in other nearby areas.

Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Proceso J. Alcala has asked National Irrigation Administration (NIA) head Antonio Nangel to closely supervise the ongoing construction in an effort to hit the timeline of the project.

Alcala made the directive following his visit to the Balingasag River Irrigation Project in Balingasag town.

The irrigation system will serve at least 2,500 hectares in the area, local officials said.

Last year, the province of Misamis Oriental produced close to 26,500 metric tons of palay from 6,400 hectares, where 5,950 hectares of which are irrigated.

The completion of the Balingasag irrigation system will greatly contribute to increase the province’s palay harvest in succeeding years, and attain self-sufficiency within the next two years, said Alcala.

In another development, the Region-10 office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-10) has recently released more than P2 million to 14 organizations of “Pantawid Pamilya” families in 14 barangays (villages) in the four municipalities of Misamis Occidental.

Under the Self-Employment Assistance “Tungo sa Kaunlaran Program” of the DSWD, the fund was released by DSWD-Misamis Occidental to the targeted beneficiaries that were identified through the National Household Targeting System (NHTS).

The 14 villages covered by the program include Biasong, Katipa, Eastern Poblacion and Western Poblacion in Lopez Jaena, Bagumbang, Calolot, Digson, Kanaw-Kanaw, Lumapas and Poblacion in Bonifacio, Sibulin, Looc Proper, and Puntod in Plaridel, and Sinuza in Tudela town.

The DSWD-Misamis Occidental, together with the provincial government headed by Governor Herminia M. Ramiro, and the local chief executives, instituted ways to help poor families in the province through its various programs.

In line with this development, the DSWD and the Misamis Occidental provincial government are very hopeful that these programs can make the targeted beneficiaries improve their lives.

Meanwhile, leaders from the six regions in Mindanao signed an agreement to have a collaborated and unified disaster planning and response for disasters that may occur in their respective regions.

The leaders in Mindanao, including various Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (DRRMCs) also pledged to have effective and coordinated efforts on capacity-building disaster risk reduction (DRR), preparedness, reconstruction, resettlement, and rehabilitation.

This developed after the Mindanao leaders, DRRMC staff and officers, and all concerned government agencies signed an agreement during the recently concluded two-day Mindanao Summit on DRR and Geo-Hazard Awareness at a hotel and convention center here.

The Mindanao Declaration on DRR Priorities (MDDRRP) was also strengthened after local government units (LGUs) vowed to allocate a bigger budget in their respective localities for disaster mitigation and relief operations.

The Mindanao declaration was spearheaded by Senators Aquilino Pimentel III, Teofisto Guingona III, and lawmakers from the various congressional districts in the country’s second largest island.

The two senators are both from Northern Mindanao, where the recent typhoon “Sendong” struck their region, killing many people, and inflicting millions of pesos worth of damage to infrastructure and agriculture.

“We declare our unity, commitment, and resolve to reduce the risks of disasters in our island,” part of the Mindanao DDRRP declaration stated.





DSWD releases P2-M to 14 orgs of Pantawid Pamilya in Mis. Occ.

by Pat Nano


LOPEZ JAENA, Misamis Occidental, Feb. 22 (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has released more than P2 million to 14 organizations of the Pantawid Pamilya families in 14 barangays from fourmunicipalities of the province.

Under the Self-Employment Assistance Tungo sa Kaunlaran Program of DSWD, the fund was released by DSWD-Mis. Occ. to the targeted beneficiaries identified through its National Household Targeting System.

The 14 barangays covered by the program are the following: Biasong, Katipa, Eastern Poblacion and Western Poblacion in Lopez Jaena; Bagumbang, Calolot, Digson, Kanaw-Kanaw, Lumapas and Poblacion in Bonifacio; Sibulin, Looc Proper, and Puntod in Plaridel; and Sinuza in Tudela.

DSWD-Mis. Occ., together with the provincial government headed by Governor Herminia M. Ramiro and all the local chief executives, instituted ways to help poor families in the province through its various programs like the Pantawid Pamilya, SEA-K, and CIDSS.

In line with this, DSWD and the Mis. Occ. provincial government are very hopeful that these programs can make the target beneficiaries get out of poverty and improve their lives. (PN-PIO/PIA 10 Mis.Occ.)






PhilHealth-X awards outstanding partners in Northern Mindanao

by Apipa P. Bagumbaran


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Feb. 21 (PIA) -- The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has bestowed recognition to 14 partner-employers and collecting banks and agents in Northern Mindanao for their valuable contribution to the success of the National Health Insurance Program, during the awarding rites held today at the Pearlmont Inn, Cagayan De Oro City.

Maria Rhodella Pare, head of the PhilHealth-X Management Services Division, said the awarding aims to give credit to accredited collecting agents and banks who provided avenue to which PhilHealth members may conveniently pay their premiums and to employers who dutifully remitted and reported the contributions of their respective employees to ensure the viability of the social health insurance fund.

Recognized as best collecting banks for the year 2011 were Philippine Postal Savings Bank in Cagayan de Oro area, Bank of Commerce, Maramag Branch in Bukidnon area, Philippine National Bank, Gingoog Branch in Misamis Oriental area, and China Banking Corporation, Iligan and Ozamiz branches in Lanao del Norte and Misamis Occidental areas, respectively.

On the other hand, the five employers awarded as Best Employers for 2011 were C-One Trading Corporation of Cagayan de Oro, Dole Philippines, Inc. – Stanfilco of Bukidnon, Iligan Medical Center College, Inc., Integrated Port Services of Ozamiz, and the City Government of Gingoog.

Meanwhile, the One Network Bank in Ozamiz City was conferred as the Best Collecting Rural Bank, the local government of Kibawe was the Best Collecting Local Government Unit, and the Universal Storefront Services Corporation in Tagoloan as the Top Non-Bank Collecting Agent in the region for the year 2011.

The Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology Multi-Purpose Cooperative was given a special citation for being the only organized group in Northern Mindanao that has managed a successful partnership in the implementation of the KASAPI program thereby giving its cooperative members easy access to healthcare services. (APB-PIA 10)





DPWH to help in solving flooding in Tudela and Clarin

by Rutchie C. Aguhob and Pat Nano


TUDELA, Misamis Occidental, Feb. 20 (PIA) -- Even if their concern is only the national highways and bridges, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is always ready to extend technical help in finding solutions to the problem of flooding in Tudela and Clarin.

This assurance came from Engr. Dario Pusod, district engineer of the Second Engineering District of Mis. Occ., who said the DPWH infrastructure in the area were also affected by the flooding in both towns.

The district engineer pointed out that the recent flooding in the area had almost destroyed the foundation of a bridge in Tudela because of the debris that piled up under the structure brought about by the floods.

He said every time there is heavy rain, water overflows at the Paca Irrigation Dam, which is under the National Irrigation Administration. “Now, if they would need our technical help, we’re just too glad to help in any way, so that the residents will be protected from any flooding tragedy,” Engr. Pusod added. (RCA/PN/PIO-PIA 10 Mis.Occ.)






Medical mission, bloodletting highlight DXDD AM’s 42nd anniversary

by pia.gov.ph


OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental, Feb. 18 (PIA) -- A medical mission highlighted Radio Station DXDD AM’s 42nd anniversary, last Wednesday, Feb. 15.

Held at the GSK Entablado, Tambalan ng Cathedral, here, the activity was actually a year thing for DXDD AM, a radio station run by the Archdiocese of Ozamiz, Wendell Talibong, Program Director, said.

It was aimed at helping Ozamiznons, especially the poor, who need the services most, Talibong said.

Included in the medical mission was a bloodletting activity from blood donors who are supporters of the station’s “Dugo Pagpapaalam” Program.

Meanwhile, Talibong thanked Governor Herminia M. Ramiro, who he said had always been there to support their annual activity.

He said the Governor Ramiro’s help often came in the form of medicines, medical personnel, and other logistics for the Medical Mission Outreach Program of the province. (PIO/PIA-10 Mis. Occ.)





LGU Tudela to make another round of damage assessment in the flashflood-affected barangays

by Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob


TUDELA, Misamis Occidental – Another round of damage assessment and needs analysis (DANA) will be done by the local government unit (LGU), here, after yesterday’s repeat of the flash floods that occurred, last Feb. 10.

Again, the continuous heavy rains on the night of Feb. 14 resulted in the swelling of Paka River, affecting 16 or 49 percent of its 33 barangays, namely:

Sebac, Basirang, Pan-ay Diot, Yanong, Locsoon, Barra, Cabul-anonan, Centro Napu, Taguima, Nailon, Tigdoc, Silongon, Upper Centro, Napurog, Hulpa and Gala.

As of 3:00 p.m. yesterday, Mayor Estela R. Obut- Estaňo had activated the Disaster Response Operations, Monitoring and Information Center, for a round the clock service, at the Health Center in the Poblacion.

She also activated the Tudela Search and Rescue Team (TSART) who got ready with their SAR equipment, such as ropes, life jackets, salvabida or floaters for any emergency after receiving reports that the water level in Paka River, had gone up to as high as a man’s breast.

Likewise, she sent the TSART members to alert the residents, thru the public address system, of the flood situation in the concerned barangays, so they can move to higher grounds for safety.

Meanwhile, Mayor Estaňo said a total of 1,338 families with 5,772 members were affected by the flashfloods, last Feb. 10, due to the previous night’s heavy rains.

No one died but 10 persons were hurt because of the incident which also damaged 225 houses, i.e., 15, totally and 210, partially.

However, only 57 families with 342 members stayed inside the evacuations centers, the Mayor said.

She said, so far, the LGU through the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) has distributed the following: blankets, 300 pcs., mosquito nets, 301 pcs. and mats, 302 pcs. (PIA-Mis. Occ.)





MisOcc LGU to allocate P30-M for rehab of flood-control dike in Tudela and Clarin

by Rutchie C. Aguhob and Pat Nano


OROQUIETA CITY, Misamis Occidental, Feb. 16 (PIA) -- The provincial government has allocated P30 million for the planned rehabilitation of the flood-control dike in the municipalities of Tudela and Clarin that was damaged by the flashfloods last Feb. 10.

“The money will be used to make the project withstand, during the occurrence of heavy rains resulting in flashfloods,” Governor Herminia Ramiro said.

Ramiro also planned to meet with the officials of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in the province for the needed repair of the collapsed flood control dike. The incident damaged not only a good number of houses, but also the agriculture and infrastructure in both municipalities.

Ramiro wanted an immediate action to protect the residents of Barangay Pan-ay Daku and Dolores and hopes NIA can provide a solution to the problem. (RCA/PN/PIO-PIA 10 Mis. Occ.)





Last night’s rain results in a pocket landslide in Ozamiz

by Rutchie C. Aguhob


OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental, Feb. 15 (PIA) -- A pocket landslide occurred some 20 meters away from the Guimad Elementary School, Ozamiz City this morning.

Mayor Nova Princess E. Parojinog-Echavez, Chairperson of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) said that no one was hurt in the incident which was brought about by last night’s rain.

Meanwhile, she has called on the barangay leaders of the city’s 51 barangays, especially those located in the coastal areas, to take pre-cautionary measures against possible rise in coastal waters.

The mayor issued the warning based on the 24-hour public weather forecast issued at 5:00 a.m., Feb. 15, 2012, by the Operations Center of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). The NDRRMC advisory said that at 2:00 a.m., the active low pressure area (ALPA) was estimated at 400 kilometers east of Mindanao.

As per forecast by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration, Mindanao, Visayas, and Southern Luzon will experience cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms with widespread rains over Eastern Mindanao and Eastern Visayas, which may trigger flashfloods and landslides. The rest of Luzon will have mostly cloudy skies with light rains.

Parojinog-Echavez ordered the crisis intervention unit to go on emergency mode, as she called on all the barangay DRRMCs to warn the people living in mountain slopes and other low-lying places to remain alert for flashfloods and landslides. (RCA-PIA 10 Mis. Occ.)





DENR supports implementation of EO 001

by Rutchie C. Aguhob and Juvy L. Canumay


OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental, Feb. 14 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has thanked the city government of Ozamiz for implementing Executive Order 001, Series of 2012, of Mayor Nova Princess E. Parojinog-Echavez.

The said EO suspended the quarry operations along the river systems and banned the cutting of trees within the city.

Forester Mercy Uy of the City Environment and Natural Resources said the implementation of EO 001 is a great help in their daily tasks since it has been the practice of some sawmill operators in the province of Misamis Occidental to resort to name dropping using the name of former Mayor Aldong Parojinog in their illegal trade.

Per EO 001 of Mayor Parojinog-Echavez, transport of logs and other tree products along the streets of the city is declared illegal since no permit to cut trees has been renewed by the city.

“This is a pro-active measure so that damage to property and loss of lives due to flashfloods and landslides can be prevented unlike what happened to the cities of Iligan and Cagayan de Oro because of Typhoon Sendong,” the Mayor said.

Meanwhile, Ozamiz City Police Office Police Supt. Jonas Amparo said he will strictly enforce EO 001 and bring to justice those who will oppose it.

For her part, Forester Uy suggested that sawmill operators who will be caught red-handed will have their sawmills dismantled and their equipment confiscated and will be returned only after their permits will be renewed. (RCA/JLC/CIO-PIA 10 Mis. Occ.)






Araw ng Calamba, Mis. Occ. to feature indigenous Filipino games

by Rutchie C. Aguhob and Pat Nano


CALAMBA, Misamis Occidental, Feb. 13 (PIA) -- The local government unit in Calamba has embarked on an indigenous way of celebrating its 64th foundation anniversary that falls on Feb. 14, this year, through the conduct of Filipino games.

Focusing on the theme: “Gugma: Tulay sa Kahiusahan, Kalinaw ug Kalamboan” (Love: Bridges Unity, Peace and Development), the Valentine’s Day celebration will involve games that are meant to bring about happiness and jubilation of the residents and their visitors.

Calamba Tourism Oficer Yzel Villanueva said the games will include inter-sectoral ball games and some Filipino games, such as Maria and Mario Went to Town, Driving the Pig Home, Pop The Balloon, Fish Relay using a paper replica of a fish flown on air, Treasure Hunting, and Tanging Hinga Mo Contests. Also included is the Search for “Hara sa of Calamba 2012” (Queen of Calamba 2012).

An added feature is the “Pailog sa Pagdakop sa mga Baktin” (Chasing the Piglet) which is to be participated only by the “Punong Barangays” of the town’s 19 barangays. (RCA/PN/PIO-PIA 10 Mis. Occ.)





CDRRMC warns Ozamiznons of possible flashfloods

by Rutchie C. Aguhob


OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental, Feb. 12 (PIA) – The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) here has warned people living in the low-lying and coastal areas of the city to take pre-cautionary measures against possible rise in coastal waters.

This, as a low pressure area (LPA) was estimated, at 2:00 a.m., today, in the vicinity of Hinatuan City, at latitude 8.6 degrees North, 126 degrees East, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said.

In its 24-hour Public Weather Forecast issued as 5:00 a.m., today, Feb. 12, 2012, PAGASA said Mindanao, the Visayas, as well, as Central and Southern Luzon will experience cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms.

There will also be widespread rains over Mindanao, the Visayas, Southern Tagalog and Bicol Region, which may trigger flashfloods and landslides, while the rest of Luzon will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and isolated thunderstorms.

Moderate to strong winds will be blowing from the Northeast and East over the Visayas and from East to Northeast over Mindanao and the coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be moderate to rough.

Meanwhile, the Ozamiz CDRRMC has called on all the Barangay DRRMC’s to warn the people living in mountain slopes and other low-lying places to remain alerted for flashfloods and landslides.

Likewise, fishing boats and other small sea crafts in the city are advised to take precautionary measures before going out into the sea, while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves.

Mayor Nova Princess E. Parojinog-Echavez, who is also the Chairperson of CDRRMC has reminded the Barangay DRRMC’s to take appropriate pro-active actions to aim for “zero” casualty focused on evacuation, rather than rescue.

Heavy rains last Feb. 9 resulted in knee-deep flashfloods the following morning that affected eight (8) barangays of the city, namely: Baňadero, Aguada, Carmen Annex, Gango, Lam-an, Maningcol, Carangan and San Antonio.

The incident also resulted in pocket landslide along the highway in Sapang Dalaga town that affected three (3) barangays, namely: Bitibot, Poblacion and El Paraiso where one (1) house was damaged. (PIA-10 Mis. Occ.)





GSIS extends moratorium to members in Sendong-affected areas

by Apipa P. Bagumbaran


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Feb. 11 (PIA) -- The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) is granting a moratorium on loan repayments for its members affected by Tropical Storm Sendong.

The moratorium program which defers payment of loan amortization, without interest and penalties, is undertaken by the GSIS to directly and immediately help members-borrowers affected by Sendong, said Ma. Luz Ilano-Briones, GSIS Cagayan de Oro Field Manager.

She said the program which will be implemented in two phases will cover the following areas in Northern Mindanao: Cagayan de Oro City, Iligan City, Matungao and Tubod towns in Lanao del Norte, Clarin and Ozamiz in Misamis Occidental province, as well as, the entire provinces of Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon.

The first phase, she said, automatically suspends the loan repayments for the months of January to March 2012 for all active members who were granted emergency loans due to Sendong.

This implies that qualified members in the specified affected areas need not file an application for the three-month moratorium, she emphasized.

The second phase, on the other hand, grants an additional nine months moratorium on the payment of loan amortization, from April to December 2012, for members residing and/or working in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, and pensioners residing in both cities.

Unlike the first phase, qualified members who are interested to avail of the benefits of the second phase are required to file an application for moratorium not later than February 29, Briones said.

She further said application for moratorium should be filed at the Cagayan de Oro and Iligan Field Offices, adding that any application filed through the GSIS website, email or regular mail shall not be honored.

Loan covered under the moratorium program includes all active housing loans without record of unpaid amortization for more than six (6) months as of December 31, 2011 and all emergency loans granted as a result of Sendong.

Also included are active service loans such as consolidated loans, eCash advance, policy loans, and pension loans, provided, that the loan was granted on or prior to December 31, 2011 and the account has no record of unpaid amortization for more than six (6) months as of December 31, 2011.

Briones, however, stressed that due and demandable accounts as of December 31, 2011 are not qualified for the program.

Meanwhile, monthly amortization on qualified loan accounts that are due and paid within the moratorium period shall be directly applied as payments to the outstanding balance of the loans in the following order: penalties/surcharges, loan redemption insurance, interest, and principal.

According to Briones, requests for refund of payments already received and receipted by the GSIS shall not be allowed.

Furthermore, fire insurance and service/housing loan redemption insurance will continue to be enforced during the moratorium period, she added. (APB/PIA-10)






Floods swamp Ozamiz City, other towns

by Ryan Rosauro and Julie S. Alipala

Inquirer Mindanao


OZAMIZ CITY, Philippines—Ten hours of continuous heavy rains starting Thursday evening flooded several areas in Misamis Occidental, including this city, on Friday, but no casualties have been reported, officials said. Residents fled to higher ground as floodwaters, aggravated by high tide, swamped their homes. Mayor Estela Obut of the town of Tudela said 241 families were rescued from up to neck-deep waters that submerged 11 of the town’s 33 barangays. “No one was reported hurt as we were able to respond to rescue needs in time,” she said. Obut said the Paca River overflowed and flooded low-lying areas of the municipality. She said several areas in the neighboring municipality of Clarin were also inundated. “Initial disaster survey showed that 16 houses had been damaged,” she said. Obut said that as of noon Friday, at least three villages remained isolated from the town center because of the deep water. Only those with boats, she said, had access to the villages of Yahong, Luksoon and Silongon. In Ozamiz City, Mayor Nova Princess Echavez ordered the suspension of classes at the elementary and high school levels due to the floods. Minor landslides in the village of Bitibot in the municipality of Sapang Dalaga blocked half of the national highway, constraining the flow of traffic, according to reports from other officials. Meanwhile, in Dapitan City in Zamboanga del Norte, floods as deep as eight feet in many areas had receded by Friday, according to Alemario Dagpin, secretary to the mayor. Councilor Apple Agolong said displaced residents from the city’s 12 flooded districts were returning home. “So many houses were destroyed, some were washed out to sea. We are still conducting our assessment,” Dagpin said. Adriano Fuego, director of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council in Western Mindanao, reported that 13,052 individuals were directly affected by the Dapitan flooding. A bridge had also collapsed, he said. Maribel Enriquez of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration office in Zamboanga City said the floods that hit Misamis Occidental and Dapitan were caused by a cold front and the northeast monsoon. Enriquez said rains were also expected in other Mindanao areas. “We are also monitoring a low pressure area in Southern Mindanao coupled with the tail of the cold front,” she said.





Fish scare grips Iligan City after Dec. 17 disaster

by Ryan D. Rosauro

Inquirer Mindanao


ILIGAN CITY, Philippines—The sale of fish caught in Northern Mindanao has taken a steep dive as talk continues to circulate about fish feeding on human corpses washed out to sea at the height of the Dec. 17 disaster here and in Cagayan de Oro City. Workers at restaurants here report of customers first asking where fish being offered on the menu were caught before ordering these. People still hesitate to eat fish caught in the region’s fishing grounds, said a waiter in one restaurant here. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) sought to dispel the rumor. Visa Tan-Dimeren, the regional director of BFAR, said fish are safe to eat if thoroughly cleaned and their internal organs are removed. Fish, said the BFAR official, should also be cooked well. Evie Lumingkit, the BFAR fish health officer, said BFAR could back up its assurance that fish from the region are safe to eat with results of a survey conducted in December that showed no ill effects of eating fish among consumers. “There were no reported cases of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, dizziness and headache associated with food poisoning caused by landed fish catch from the coastal waters of this region,” said Lumingkit. She said the survey was conducted in communities in the coastal areas of Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental and Camiguin after the Dec. 17 disaster that struck at the height of Tropical Storm “Sendong.” Prices of fish have gone down as a result of a decline in consumption. The effects of the fish scare are most felt in Misamis Occidental and Lanao del Norte where large numbers of coastal communities are dependent on fishing. In Misamis Occidental, fish prices went down by as much as 50 percent. Market vendors in Ozamiz City said prices of small squid suffered the heaviest hit. It now sells P10 to P20 per kilogram and yet no one’s buying. The sale of tilapia and milkfish grown in fish cages or ponds was spared. Their sale continues to be brisk. Last week, officials of Misamis Occidental tried to convince people it was safe to eat fish from the province by eating fish in a public ceremony.






PAGASA issues General Flood Advisory No. 4 for Northern Mindanao

by Rutchie C. Aguhob


OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental, Feb. 8 (PIA) -- People living near rivers, streams, mountain slopes, and low-lying areas in all provinces of Region 10 are again warned of possible flashfloods by the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC)-Region 10.

This, after the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) issued General Flood Advisory No. 4 for Northern Mindanao at 9:00 a.m., Feb. 8, 2012.

PAGASA said the present weather shows that Mindanao and Visayas will experience scattered rain showers and isolated thunderstorms while Luzon will have isolated light rains over the eastern section.

Isolated light rains are expected in the next 24 hours, which will likely affect the waterways of all the provinces in the region, namely Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, Camiguin Island, and Bukidnon.

Among these river systems are the Oroquieta River and other rivers and tributaries in Misamis Occidental, Agus River, Liangan River, Maranding River, Mandulog River, Dapao River and Mataling River in Lanao del Norte, Odiongan River, Tagoloan River, Cagayan de Oro River, Manduloy River, Cabulig River, and the other nearby rivers in the province of Misamis Oriental.

Regional Director Ana Cañeda of the Office of Civil Defense and Chairperson of RDRRMC-10 said the local DRRMCs are also reminded to take appropriate pro-active actions to aim for “zero casualty” focused on evacuation rather than rescue. (RCA-PIA 10 Mis. Occ.)





RDRRMC-10 updates show 69,666 families were affected by Typhoon Sendong in region 10

by Rutchie C. Aguhob


OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental, Feb. 7 (PIA) -- A total of 69,666 families with 384,431 members had been affected by typhoon Sendong in Northern Mindanao, according to the updated data of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC), Region 10.

Of this figure, 47,009 families involving 281,740 members were from Misamis Oriental, of which 38,071 families with 228,576 members were from Cagayan de Oro City (CDO), while the rest came from eight of its municipalities, namely: Lugait, Manticao, Naawan, Alubijid, Opol, Tagoloan, Villanueva, and Kinoguitan.

This was followed by Iligan City with 20,249 families with 90,285 members and Bukidnon with 2,408 families with 12,406 persons from Valencia City and the towns of Baungon, Libona, Malitbog, Cabanglasan, Manolo Fortich, Talakag, and Impasug-ong.

Meanwhile, Regional Director Ana Cañeda of the Office of Civil Defense, Region 10, said 4,572 families with 18,273 members still remain in 35 evacuation centers (ECs), of which 18 are located in CDO and 17 in Iligan City.

Of those who remain inside the ECs, 1,795 families with 7,390 members are from CDO and 1,617 families with 5,657 members are from Iligan City, while some 1,159 families with 5,226 members have gone to the transitory relocation sites.

The number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) outside the ECs has also been noted at 46,245 with 262,682 members, Cañeda, who is also the chairperson of RDRRMC-10, said.

About 24,482 of these families with 148,667 members are from CDO, and 10,472 families with 48,813 members from Iligan City.

Also living outside the ECs are 8,886 IDP families with 52,904 members from Misamis Oriental and 2,404 IDP families with 12,298 members from Bukidnon. (PIA-10 Mis. Occ.)






Misamis Oriental observes world wetlands day

by Cedric Dayta


LUGAIT, Misamis Occidental, Feb. 6 (PIA) -- Lugait town in the province of Misamis Occidental celebrated World Wetlands Day 2012 with a massive cleanup.

Led by Mayor Wellie Lim, together with the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) in Misamis Oriental, the cleanup started at around 6:00 a.m. along the three coastal barangays in Lugait: Poblacion, Biga and Calangahan signifying support to the World Wetlands Day 2012.

Mayor Lim, on other hand, issued a memorandum enjoining all officers and employees in the local government to participate in the celebration.


Meanwhile, the international theme for World Wetlands Day 2012 is 'Wetlands and Tourism - a great experience.' This aligns with the theme of the 11th Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention-- 'Wetlands, Tourism and Recreation'-- which will be held in July 2012 in Bucharest, Romania.

World Wetlands Day was first celebrated in 1997.

Since then, government agencies, non-government organizations and community groups have celebrated World Wetlands Day by undertaking actions to raise public awareness of wetland values and benefits and promote the conservation and wise use of wetlands.

These activities include seminars, nature walks, festivals, launchings of new policies, announcement of new Ramsar sites, newspaper articles, radio interviews and wetland rehabilitation. (PIO/PIA-10)





New PNP bldg in Mis Occ, now ready for occupancy

by Pat Nano


OROQUIETA CITY, Misamis Occidental, Feb. 5 (PIA) -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Misamis Occidental is now ready to occupy its newly completed building inside the Provincial Police Service Compound (PPSC), in the city, after its recent blessing.

Located inside the Camp Naranjo Headquarters, the building was constructed through the financial assistance worth P2 million from Governor Herminia Ramiro.

The governor gave the amount for the construction of the building to house the Misamis Occidental Provincial Police Office (PPO) for the convenience of the members of the Misamis Occidental PPO and inspire them to give out effective service to the people and implement peace and order in the province.

Police Chief Jufel Adriatico, Regional Director of PNP-10 was represented by P.Chief Superintendent Catalino B. Rodriguez, Jr., Deputy Director of the PNP Regional Office 10. Governor Herminia Ramiro was represented by Atty. Ric-Ric Lumantas and Jim Delos Santos, Board Member of the First District of Misamis Occidental.

In line with this, the PNP leadership in the province, as well, as in the region, has thanked Governor Ramiro for the project. (PIO/PIA-10 Mis. Occ.)





Sendong-damaged infrastructure reaches P1.286B

by Rutchie C. Aguhob


OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental, Feb. 4 (PIA) -- Latest estimates of damage to infrastructure, mostly on roads, flood control projects, and irrigation structures and facilities due to tropical storm Sendong in Northern Mindanao have reached P1.286 billion.

Reports submitted by the Department of Public Works and Highways Region 10 (DPWH-10) to the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) show the amount of damages in the following areas: Misamis Oriental, P25.99 million, Misamis Occidental, P191.89 million, Bukidnon First District Engineering Office (DEO), P4.4 million, Bukidnon 3rd DEO, P25.30 million, Cagayan de Oro (CDO) 1st DEO, P220 million, CDO 2nd DEO, P360 million, and Lanao del Norte 2nd DEO, P192.15 million.

Previous reports received by RDRRMC-10 from DPWH said the restoration cost of the Cagayan de Oro River revetment which was totally washed out have been estimated at P640 million, which already includes a new study and master plan for the project.

Meanwhile, the CDO 1st DEO is just awaiting funds for the repair of the flood control works involving 600 lineal meters along the CDO River Basin in Barangays Carmen, Kauswagan, and Bonbon of CDO.

The CDO 2nd DEO also said clearing of the collapsed soil that blocked the CDO-Airport-Bukidnon Road, Dansolihon and Dansolihon-Uguiaban Sections, as well, as the Lumbia-Uguiaban By-pass Road, Mangalay Section, have been 100 percent completed.

In Lanao del Norte’s 2nd DEO, particularly, Iligan City, the replacement of the P130 million Mandulog Bridge 1, with a span of 86.5 meters in length, five slabs and two piers which totally collapsed, have been estimated at P160 million.

Traffic in the area have been rerouted to the Misamis Oriental - Ma. Cristina Boundary Road via Mandulog Bridge 2, while removal of damaged structure, realignment, and raising-up of finish grade for Mandulog Bridge 1 is still ongoing.

The Sta. Felomina-Bonbonon-Digkilaan-Rogongon Road, also of Iligan City, is now passable to four-wheel drive vehicles after the landslide debris had been cleared while the restoration of 32 sections of the road is ongoing.

In the Bukidnon 3rd DEO, construction of a spillway type of access road, amounting to P800,000 is ongoing with that of the cross drainage along junction Manolo Fortich-Libona-Indahag (MFLI) Road in Libona.

Provision of slope protection using sheet piles and gabions costing P15 million and request for its immediate funding had also been recommended for the Agusan Canyon Bridge, along junction MFLI Road.

Soil and rock slope failure that blocked the carriageway at the junction of MFLI Road has been cleared and is now passable but needs immediate release of funds for its repair.

Likewise, repair of the damaged slope protection of the Uguiaban Bridge, along the CDO-Dominorog-Camp Kibaritan Road in Talakag, needs immediate release of funds.

In the Bukidnon 1st DEO, the following roads have also been made passable, after being cleared of the collapsed soil and debris:

Aglayan-Zamboanguita Road, specifically, Mapulo and Silae-Mapulo Sections, Malaybalay City and 11 sections of the Kapalong-Talaingod-Valencia Road, particularly those in Lumbayao, Valencia City, Makalungay, Sitio Paso, Mabuhay, Cawayan, Mahayag, San Jose and Nabunturan Sections, in San Fernando.

Funding for repairs have also been requested for the following bridges in the district: Salug Bridge in Kalagangan, Mampilo Bridge in Kayaga and Pusod Bridge, in San Jose, all of San Fernando town and Batangan Bridge, in Batangan, Valencia City, which is still under construction. (PIA-10 Mis. Occ.)






Ozamiz CDC approves P59.77-M annual investment plan for 2012

by Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob


OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental, Feb. 3 (PIA) --The Ozamiz City Development Council (OCDC) has passed a resolution endorsing, for final approval, the program,projects, activities of the city’s 2012 Annual Investment Program (AIP) 20% Development Fund Component, in the amount of P59,770,743.

Said resolution was passed during the first full council meeting of the OCDC, last January 17, held in the city. The full council passed CDC Resolution No. 001-2012, s. of 2012 after it deliberated the proposed programs/projects and activities and found them in line with the development thrusts and objectives of the city. The OCDC, pursuant to Article 182, Rule XXII of the Rules and Regulations Implementing the Local Government Code of 1991 serves as the main development advisory arm of the Local Executive and Sangguniang Panglungsod, to set the direction of economic and social development of the city.

Meanwhile, Mayor Nova Princess E. Parojinog-Echavez, Chairperson of OCDC, said Php57,670,743 or 96.49% of the amount in the AIP will be spent for the economic development activities, while Php2,100,000 or 3.51%will be for the social development activities of the city.

Breakdown of the economic development activities and their respective allocation is as follows:

Improvement of urban/rural road links, Php8.4M, all weather rural road maintenance, Php100,000, Bridge Finance Loan Amortization for farm to market road improvement of the Dimaluna-Balintawak-Cavinte-Kinuman Norte Road, Php5.713M, and construction support facilities loan amortization, Php3.535M.

Integrated Livelihood Programs, Php1.95M, agricultural livelihood sustainability, Php650,000, preferred development investment support projects, Php2.55M, and loan amortization for the improvement/rehabilitation of Ozamiz City Public Market, Php14.65M.

Environmental management, Pp200,000, Bio-diversity conservation and management, Php470,000, solid waste and ecological management program, Php730,000, debt servicing for acquisition of sanitary landfill heavy equipments and financial charges, Php15.49M and debt servicing for Kinuman Norte Sanitary Landfill Development, Php3.24M.

The social development activities include the Barangay Comprehensive Social Development Projects, Php1.8M, city street lights projects, Php200,000, and rural water system repair/ rehabilitation, Php100,000. (PIA-10 Mis. Occ.)

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