Zamboanga Sibugay News October 2011

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Ex-MILF leader and men regroup in Zambo Sibugay

by Ron Gagalac, ABS-CBN News


MANILA, Philippines - Hundreds of lawless elements linked to former Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) leader Waning Abdulsalam have re-grouped in the vicinity of Labatan Island, Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay, local officials said.

An ABS-CBN News team was able to reach the island, which became a highly critical area ever since it became a stronghold of Abdulsalam.

Despite the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police’s continued claims they have taken over the bandits’ lair, local officials and informants in the island said Abdulsalam's groups have again banded together to wage a war against the military.

Members are now numbering to anywhere between 300-400 heavily armed men.

Payao Vice Mayor Carlito Chong said, "naka-scatter na ulit mga tao nayan, mga lawless elements, expected mga 300-400 katao nandyan sa Talaib ngayon."

Residents and local officials said they know better than any government intelligence report since they have been living on the island for decades and have residents in the areas informing them of the whereabouts of the bandit group.

Sources from the Philippine Army said Abdulsalam is still in the island being coddled by his numerous wives in different towns, but is critically wounded.

The Philippine Army believes the forces of Abdulsalam will not reach a hundred men.

Army's First Division Chief Major General Noel Coballes said his troops are still in the process of retrieving bodies of the enemies believed to be buried within the island.

He said, "hinahanap naming yung mga katawan, inilibing din dyan."

He added ground operations to arrest Abdulsalam and his cohorts continue. They may also call for air support only if necessary.

Aside from Payao, Lt. Col. Samuel Leria, spokesman of the Army's First Division in the Zamboanga Peninsula, said some of Abdulsalam's units have crossed-over to areas in Zamboanga Sibugay.

He said, "may mga report tayo na mayroon sa Kabasalan, Olutanga, Alicia Malangas, at mayroon din sa Zamboanga Del Sur."

A resident who was unable to escape during the air strikes recounted how they survived the encounters. Jenap Sanahan said, "magtatago kami, gumagapang kami sa lupa matakot man kami".

Several other residents living a few hundred meters away from the bandits' lair also shared the same stories and believe that Abdulsalam's group is still within the island.

Local officials are asking for help, especially food supplies, since residents cannot work on their crops for fear of being trapped in the military offensives. Chong said, "kailangan naming ng relief at pagkain, hindi kaya ng munisipyo sa calamity fund."

ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya took the opportunity to provide food for children traumatized by the air strikes last week. The Sagip Kapamilya staff also performed plays and games for the children.

For the next seven days, ABS-CBN will provide for the meals of the children. Relief goods will also be distributed after assessment of the security risk in reaching the area.

Meanwhile, PO3 Angelito Tayan and SPO2 Lito Arcenal, who died in an ambush last week in Payao, were laid to rest this afternoon in Kabasalan Cemetery, Zamboanga Sibugay.

The PNP honored Tayan and Arcenal with a 21-gun salute.

Emotions ran high as families bid farewell to them for the last time.

Two more soldiers were laid to rest on Saturday. The 102nd Infantry Brigade in the provincial capital of Ipil gave honors to Cpl. Rey Mila and Cpl. Reynaldo Salazar through the traditional 21-gun salute for fallen soldiers.

Families are seeking for justice for the death of their loved ones.

Sibugay peace and order returns to normal, says military

by philstar.com


MANILA, Philippines – The military today officially declared the end of its military offensive against the group of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) commander Wanning Abdulsalam in Zamboanga Sibugay.

Maj. Harold Cabunoc, spokesman of the Philippine Army, said that the situation in Zamboanga Sibugay, particularly in Payao, the stronghold of Abdulsalam's group, has returned to "normal."

Cabunoc said that the military is already preparing to "turn over to the Philippine National Police (PNP) the security" of the town.

The military had said that more than 20 members of Abdulsalam's group were killed in airstrikes and ground offensive in Abdulsalam's lair.

The military had said that it received reports that Abdulsalam was also either wounded or killed in the clashes which started early this week.

There were also reports that Abdulsalam escaped with 40 of his men amid the airstrikes. Pursuit operations continue against the MILF commander's group.

President Benigno Aquino III authorized the military's offensive in Payao town after separate attacks conducted by Moro fighters in Zamboanga Sibugay last October 20, where seven soldiers and policemen were killed.

Two days before the attacks in Zamboanga Sibugay, 19 soldiers were killed in a clash against members of the MILF in Sitio Bakisung, Barangay Cugman in Al-Barka, Basilan. The rebel group reportedly suffered 11 fatalities during the nine-hour clash.

The military said yesterday that it is now gearing to escalate its operations against the group that killed the 19 soldiers.

Reports said that the group of Abu Sayyaf bandit Long Malat and renegade MILF commander Dan Laksaw Asnawi were responsible in the soldiers' killing. -- with PNA

ODC monitoring Zamboanga Sibugay situation

by Jomie Apostol


QUEZON CITY, October 28 (PIA) -- Office of Civil Defense operations division Chief Edgardo Ollet reported Friday that they are monitoring evacuation centers in Zamboanga Sibugay and Basilan which are still receiving internally displaced persons fleeing from their homes amid the conflict between military and rebel groups. In Zamboanga Sibugay there are 11 evacuation centers, six in the municipality of Alicia, one in Mabuhay, three in Olutanga and one in Tulusan while in Basilan they use a mobile evacuation center. Meanwhile, the ODC is also monitoring rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in Pampanga and Bulacan,the hardest-hit provinces battered by typhoon Pedring and Quiel. The reconstruction effort is headed by the Department of Health, as part of water sanitation efforts to avoid the proliferation of water related diseases. The Department of Social Welfare and Development is working on giving emergency shelter assistance for houses which were totally damaged during the typhoons, by giving out models of houses which are typhoon-resistant. They also give assistance for houses which are only partially damaged by giving out materials like galvanized iron sheets for roof repair. The DSWD also gave assistance to affected families by providing livelihood through their cash-for-work program. Ollet added that all affected families have returned to their homes, but they can be given extended relief assistance through the barangay captain for food. (RDA/JA/PIA-GHQ)

Troops capture rebels' lair

by Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper


DAVAO CITY -- Government troops captured a heavily fortified lair of Moro rebels and outlaws in Zamboanga Sibugay on Wednesday after days of air and ground assaults, but found no sign of the rebels.

More than 100 Moro rebels and outlaws led by several suspects in kidnappings for ransom and other crimes that authorities have sought to arrest had holed up in the area, military officials said.

Troops failed for days to approach the lair because of heavy rebel gunfire that killed at least two soldiers. The clashes displaced thousands of residents.

Army chief Lieutenant General Arturo Ortiz said troops were scouring the main encampment and the surrounding hinterlands near Payao town in Zamboanga Sibugay province Wednesday and clearing some areas that were rigged with land mines.

In a related development, Army chief of staff Eduardo Oban visited Davao City on Tuesday for the briefing on the Eastern Mindanao Command’s (EMC) contingency plan to prevent a spill-over of the attacks in Basilan and Zamboanga Zibugay into its areas of responsibility.

EMC head Lieutenant General Arthur Tabaquero said the contingency plan involves movement of troops and prepositioning that is geared toward effective deterrence of hostile actions from all rebel groups.

Oban also re-echoed to the troops the all-out justice stance of the administration of President Benigno Aquino III, EMC spokesman Colonel Leopoldo Galon said.

President Aquino ordered both the military and the police to hunt down 10 people believed to be responsible for the deaths of 19 soldiers in Al-Barka, Basilan last week.

He continued, however, to oppose calls for launching an all-out war against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), a separatist group that his administration is currently holding peace talks with.

Davao City Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte supports Aquino’s all-out justice move instead of an all-out war.

Duterte said it is not a good idea to declare a war against the Moro rebels considering that conflict is only in patches of areas.

"Dito sa Dabaw, wala man tayong problema dito (In Davao City, we don't have problems here), we are in good terms with our neighbors," Duterte said, adding that even rebels are coexisting with the people peacefully.

Duterte said Aquino's option of an all-out justice is better and more acceptable.

"Kung musulod ka sa usa ka lugar ug ang imong paradigm is to wage war, talo ka na agad (If you go into a place where your paradigm is to wage a war, you are already a loser). If you want vengeance, you're a dead duck," Duterte said.

"Ang buhaton diha is sustained police action to apprehend kadtong mga tawo nakasala (All it needs is sustained police action to apprehend the perpetrators). Police action would be in consonance with all out justice. It simply means we have to arrest the people who had a hand in that massacre in Basilan," he added. (AP/Ben O. Tesiorna of Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)

AFP says tension in Mindanao eases

by Jun Pasaylo


MANILA, Philippines – The tension between the forces of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has eased as the military claimed to have isolated a group of lawless elements in Zamboanga Sibugay province.

“At the start there was [tension], but as of now wala namang ganyan,” Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang, spokesman of the Western Mindanao Command, said in a phone interview with Philstar.com.

Cabangbang added that the easing of tension between the government’s forces and the Moro rebels came after the MILF made an assurance that it will cooperate in the ongoing probe in the bloody Basilan attacks that killed at least 20 government forces.

“The issue [of the MILF’s involvement] in the attacks was properly addressed through the Joint Ceasefire Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (JCCCH), and they vowed to cooperate with the investigation,” Cabangbang said.

He also eased fears of soliciting more tensions between the AFP and the Moro rebels due to the ongoing operations in Payao town in Zamboanga Sibugay, saying it is a legitimate operation against lawless elements.

“There is nothing to worry about in Payao operation as the MILF knows that it is against the lawless element groups that sowed terror and atrocities in the area,” he said.

Isolated

Cabangbang, meanwhile, reported that government forces are closing-in "inch-by-inch" to the fortified positions of the rebels.

When asked on why it took them days to capture the one-by-three kilometer stretch of the rebel's camp at the tip of Payao Peninsula, Cabangbang cited the tough terrain that the military had to negotiate to get near the lawless group, led by Wanning Abdulsalam.

“The place is in the middle of a marshland, where this group brings their kidnapping victims, but we are gaining position in-by-inch,” he added. He said that the military is determined to establish authority over the isolated-rebel-infested area.

The military had said that Abdulsalam is leading at least 150 men in the marshlands of Payao town.

Cabangbang said that despite report that Abulsalam’s group is identified with the MILF, people concerned about the operations effect on peace process should not worry as there are no identified areas of temporary stay (ATS) in Payao town.

“While they are identified with the MILF, there is no identified ATS in the area, so there is no reason for them to establish a camp there," he reiterated.

Curfew

Cabangbang told Philstar.com that local officials have implemented curfew in Payao and its neighboring municipalities of Kabasalan, Alicia and Imelda.

He, however, denied reports that thousands of villagers in Payao and its outskirts have evacuated due to the military offensive.

He assured that the military operations are being conducted away from communities.

Reports yesterday said that 10,000 to 16,000 residents of Payao and nearby towns have fled their homes as the military intensified its airstrikes in the fortified position of Abdulsalam’s group.

The airstrikes started early Monday, three days after four soldiers and three policemen were killed in three separate ambuscades in Zamboanga Sibugay.

The MILF said that its members, belonging to the 114th Base Command, carried out the attacks.

Basilan operations start

Meanwhile, Cabangbang said that military has an ongoing operations against the suspected groups responsible in the October 18 and October 23 attacks in Basilan, where 20 soldiers were killed.

He said that the groups are led by Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Long Malat Solaiman and MILF deputy commander Dan Laksaw Asnawi.

“We are running after the group of Malat and Asnawi. On Malat, there is no question of the legitimacy of operation since he is not identified with the MILF but of the Abu Sayyaf Group," he said.

He cited that the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group is now preparing charges against Asnawi to be filed before the JCCCH for his liabilities in the death of more than a dozen of soldiers and civilians.

“If the MILF will not do anything about it, we will be forced to enter their ATS, but of course on a proper coordination with the ceasefire committee,” he assured.

16,000 people flee from Mindanao clashes

by PhilStar.com


MANILA, Philippines (AP) — More than 16,000 people have fled from four southern Philippine towns where government troops have been battling Muslim guerrillas and outlaws.

The Office of Civil Defense said Tuesday that about 10,800 villagers have been displaced in three towns in Zamboanga Sibugay province.

The towns include coastal Payao, where air force bomber planes, army troops and naval gunboats have been battling more than 120 suspected Muslim rebels and outlaws accused of kidnappings for ransom and other crimes.

Officials say nearly 6,000 villagers have also fled from Al-Barka town in the island province of Basilan, where 19 army soldiers were killed in a clash with Muslim guerrillas last week.

The fresh clashes are complicating government peace talks with Muslim rebels.

Military launches air strikes in Zamboanga Sibugay

by Frances Mangosing


MANILA, Philippines – The Armed Forces of the Philippines launched air strikes as part of its law enforcement operations to arrest notorious kidnapping group led by Juaning Abdulsalam in Zamboanga Sibugay, a military spokesman said on Monday. About 200-strong combined elements of the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Army have conducted the operations backed by OV-10 gunships and armored vehicles in Sitio (sub-village) Taib, Labatan village in Payao town, Zamboanga Sibugay, said acting Army spokesman Major Harold Cabunoc. Airstrikes began at about 11:30a.m., he added. Meanwhile, about 100 heavily armed bandits are held up in their bunkers and running trenches, he said. Army Chief Lieutenant General Arturo Ortiz has directed his subordinate commanders to pursue all lawless elements in their respective areas, while ensuring that the ceasefire agreement is strictly observed, he said. There is no recognized area of temporary stay for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in the area, Cabunoc said. In a separate statement, Lieutenant General Raymundo Ferrer, Western Mindanao Command chief, said that the MILF has claimed that Abdulsalam is one of their commanders. Ferrer added that the MILF can assist government security forces in capturing Abdulsalam through the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group and the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities. The attack against lawless elements came a day after the MILF’s 114 Base Command led by Hassan Asnawi launched another ambush attack against military forces killing two soldiers and five civilians in Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte. This is the latest in a series of skirmishes between military forces and MILF rebels amid on-going peace talks between the government and the MILF central leadership. Last week, at least 27 soldiers and policemen were killed in a series of encounters and ambushes in Basilan. The MILF has admitted to launching the ambushes but said that these were retaliatory attacks against the MILF who they claim to have breached the existing ceasefire agreement.

Armed men occupies school in Zamboanga

by AARON RECUENCO


MANILA, Philippines -- A large band of heavily armed men occupied a school in Talusan in Zamboanga Sibugay on Saturday, further escalating the tension in the province which had just been rocked by explosions and ambuscades of government troops a few days ago.

Director Felicisimo Khu, Jr., head of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations –Western Mindanao, said that the 50 armed men first clashed with government militiamen in Barangay Samonte at around 2:30 p.m. on Saturday before they occupied the school in the village.

Fortunately, there was no classes when the armed stormed the elementary school in Barangay Samonte.

But Chief Supt. Elpidio de Asis, director of the Zamboanga Peninsula regional police, said the armed men destroyed some of the classrooms and school supplies.

“They also took two large cattle and other properties of the local residents,” said de Asis.

MILF claims AFP attacked its forces in Zambo Sibugay forces

by LBG, GMA News


The Moro Islamic Liberation Front accused the government of insincerity in the peace process after an alleged attack by the Armed Forces of the Philippines on its forces in Zamboanga Sibugay early Saturday.

An article on the MILF website said the AFP assaulted the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF)’s 113th Base Command at Sitio Taib, Labatan village in Payao town.

It said the attack started around 5 a.m., with the military launching mortar rounds from 105-mm howitzers.

“Forces of the 113th Base Command BIAF-MILF were praying Subuh, early morning prayer for the Muslims, when the heavy bombardment started toward them," it said.

The MILF claimed military Bronco planes bombed Labatan and forced some 3,000 civilians to flee their homes and seek refuge at Tampalan Elementary School.

It said the AFP attacks started last October 15.

“MILF forces expressed that the operation in Labatan, Payao, manifested in clear and strong terms the insincerity of the government to the ongoing peace process and ceasefire with the MILF," it said.

Ops vs lawless elements ongoing

But earlier, President Benigno Aquino III said the operations in Zamboanga Sibugay were aimed at lawless elements who killed seven soldiers and wounded eight others there this week.

“There are ongoing operations in Zamboanga Sibugay as we speak, hindi hihinto. Gusto kong iparating na ang estado handang ipagtanggol ang ating mga kababayan... Yung mga akalang makalulusot, palagay ko madadama nila kung ano ang ibig sabihin pag nakatutok ang estado sa pagtutugis sa kanila, Aquino said in an interview Friday night.

Also, he said no one can conclude the MILF was behind the Zamboanga Sibugay incident, at least for now, adding, “Hindi pwedeng haka-haka lang."

MILF owns up to ambushes in Zamboanga Sibugay

by Jeoffrey Maitem


COTABATO CITY, Philippines—The Moro Islamic Liberation Front on Friday owned up to Thursday’s two ambush incidents in Zamboanga Sibugay but justified it as a retaliatory attack against the military. Von Al Haq, MILF spokesperson, the two ambush incidents were prompted by artillery attacks on MILF camps in Zamboanga Sibugay. “That’s the consequences of their action. It’s retaliation … part of war. Soldiers have been indiscriminately pounding our position and civilian areas in Bayao town,” he said. Rebels ambushed two army convoys and a joint-military-police patrol on the strife-torn southern island of Mindanao late on Thursday, killing six government men and wounding eight others, authorities said. The attacks came two days after MILF forces killed 19 soldiers on the remote southern island of Basilan in one of the worst outbreaks of violence between the two sides in years. The MILF has said five of its own fighters were killed in that clash. Agence France-Presse

MILF owns up to ambushes in Zamboanga Sibugay

by 12:50 pm | Friday, October 21st, 2011


COTABATO CITY, Philippines—The Moro Islamic Liberation Front on Friday owned up to Thursday’s two ambush incidents in Zamboanga Sibugay but justified it as a retaliatory attack against the military. Von Al Haq, MILF spokesperson, the two ambush incidents were prompted by artillery attacks on MILF camps in Zamboanga Sibugay. “That’s the consequences of their action. It’s retaliation … part of war. Soldiers have been indiscriminately pounding our position and civilian areas in Bayao town,” he said. Rebels ambushed two army convoys and a joint-military-police patrol on the strife-torn southern island of Mindanao late on Thursday, killing six government men and wounding eight others, authorities said. The attacks came two days after MILF forces killed 19 soldiers on the remote southern island of Basilan in one of the worst outbreaks of violence between the two sides in years. The MILF has said five of its own fighters were killed in that clash. Agence France-Presse

4 soldiers hurt in Zambo clash

by Alfred Dalizon


FIGHTING between security troops and Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels erupted in Zamboanga Sibugay Saturday afternoon, injuring at least four troopers. A Philippine National Police report said an undetermined number of the Muslim guerrillas were wounded in the clash in Sitio Lukarang, Bgy. Labatan, Payao municipality at 1:45 p.m. Saturday. PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Agrimero A. Cruz Jr. said policemen and soldiers were on patrol in the area when they encountered the gunmen. Army Privates First Class Sulu, Sajili and Dinorog and militiaman Sariul were taken to a local hospital after suffering gunshot wounds. Cruz said security forces were still tracking down the MILF rebels as of press time.

Ipil imposes new parking fees for add'l income

by Paulnazer Lontua


IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay, Oct. 17 (PIA) - - To earn some income and help decongest the traffic here, the Municipal Economic Enterprise Development Office (MEEDO) of this town has recently implemented new parking fee rates and traffic rerouting scheme at its public market in Barangay Don Andres. The order was given to the head of the security and enforcement section through Market Supervisor Edmundo Sumatra. Each vehicle parked at the designated parking area shall pay a corresponding fee ranging from P5 to P100. For private vehicles and public utility jeepneys, their owners shall pay P5 while P50 shall be charged for delivery vans and other vehicles with one to four tons capacity. Those vehicle weighing five tons or more such as fish cars shall pay P100. However, vehicles owned or operated by stall occupants are exempt from paying parking fees provided each stall holder is using no more than three vehicles. Under the new parking schemes, all public utility tricycles shall park in a single line at the designated parking area while the private single motorcycles shall also park diagonally at the parking reserved for them. Meanwhile, all four- wheeled vehicles and delivery vans are also given designated parking areas. MEEDO also imposes no loading and unloading of goods at said public market between 5:00-8:00 a.m. and 3:00-7:00 p.m. along the road toward the east exit gate and along the entire stretch of the road in front market stall toward the west exit gate. The new parking fee rates and traffic rerouting schemes have been implemented in pursuance of Municipal Ordinance No. 6-173-2003, the market and slaughter house code of this municipality. Violators shall be meted out corresponding penalty. (JPA/FPG/P. Lontua/Sibugay)

Fishpond operator abducted in Zambo

  • Source: Fishpond operator abducted in Zambod
  • 10/10/2011 12:16 PM
by abs-cbnNEWS.com


MANILA, Philippines – A fishpond operator was abducted in Zamboanga del Sur last Saturday.

The Philipine Navy said the victim, 30-year-old Monalisa Capa, was abducted by about 10 armed men in army attire in Barangay Poblacion in Pitogo town around 6:30 p.m.

Capa was dragged to 2 awaiting pumpboats that sped off towards the direction of Olutanga town in Zamboanga Sibugay.

2 kidnappers nabbed in Sibugay

by Mindanews

ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews/ 8 October) – Two members of a kidnap-for-ransom group allegedly involved in two abduction incidents here were arrested Friday, police said.

Senior Supt. Edwin de Ocampo, Zamboanga City police director, said the suspects were arrested around 5:30 p.m. Friday at the public market of Malangas municipality in the nearby province of Zamboanga Sibugay.

De Ocampo identified the arrested suspects as Rajack Campo and Abdurahman Abdurahim, who were arrested by Malangas policemen.

The warrants for their arrest for kidnapping with serious illegal detention and several detention with ransom was issued by Judge Gregorio dela Peña III of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 12, De Ocampo said.

He said that the identities of the kidnappers were confirmed by kidnap victim Maricris Cuartocruz through the pictures sent to her through email. The 21-year-old volunteer nurse at the Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC) was kidnapped from her residence in the evening of December 14, 2010 in Barangay Manicahan, 20 kilometers east of this city.

She was released February 28, 2011 in the town of Alicia, Zamboanga Sibugay after her family paid “goodwill money” to the kidnappers.

De Ocampo disclosed that the two arrested suspects were also involved in the kidnapping of retired soldier Benjamin Almonte on February 6, 2010.

Almonte, 55, was also kidnapped in Manicahan as he went fishing, a hobby he picked up after retiring from military service.

The kidnappers freed Almonte on February 19, 2010 while being pursued by government forces in the boundary of Tungawan and R.T. Lim municipalities in Zamboanga Sibugay. (MindaNews)

2 suspects in 2010 kidnapping of nurse in Zamboanga Sibugay arrested

by Julie Alipala


ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Zamboanga Sibugay police arrested two suspects in the December 2010 kidnapping of nurse Maricris Sogradiel Cuartocruz from this city, authorities said Saturday. Senior Superintendent Edwin de Ocampo, acting city police chief, said Rajack Campo and Abdurahman Abdurahim were apprehended inside the public market of Malangas town in Zamboanga Sibugay. De Ocampo said the arrest was made based on a warrant issued by a local court in connection with the kidnapping charges that the Cuartocruz family had filed against suspects in the nurse’s disappearance. Cuartocruz was abducted by several armed men inside the family’s home in Barangay (village) Manicahan here and was brought to Zamboanga Sibugay. She spent more than two months in captivity before her kidnappers freed her on February 28.

Alicia gets liquid quick freeze facility

by PIA Press Release


ALICIA, ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY, October 3 (PIA) -- The Department of Agriculture-National Agribusiness Corporation (DA-NABCOR) recently turned over one unit of Liquid Quick Freeze (LQF) machine to the Municipality of Alicia, Zamboanga Sibugay. Samuel Simbajon, NABCOR area manager, said LQF is a freezer and ice maker that produces a minimum of 3 tons of ice block a day. It is one of the revenue generating projects of the LGUs and recipient organizations focused on the fisherfolk and farmers’ cooling services and freezing of agricultural and fishery products. The project is under the national cold chain program of the national government, aimed at increasing farmers/fisherfolk’s income; meet the demand of the market for a year-round supply of commodities; and extend the freshness and shelf life of agri and fishery perishable products. Simbajon said, the LQF is a donation of the DA-NABCOR to any legally registered cooperatives , foundations, community organizations or local government units. Recipients must have the capability to provide for the required counterpart such as space, electricity, water and operating capital to operate the facility. The target recipients can avail of the project, but must conform with the qualifications, terms and conditions stipulated in the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), to be signed by both parties to maintain and sustain the project in the locality where it will be established. Under the MOA, the donor agency will donate the LQF complete with accessories. They will also provide the necessary training and technical knowhow to operate and maintain the facility. On the other hand, the recipient will provide for the utilities such as a one unit transformer, packaging materials and vacuum sealer. They will also provide the covered facility or existing warehouse, which is a minimum of 40 square meters, floor area with cleared height of 6 meters, and potable water supply line. Same agreement also stipulates the roles of the recipient and NABCOR to make the project successful, and for the uplift of the economic condition of the farmers and fisherfolk in the countryside. Simbajon said there are six operational LQF regionwide. One unit each in the Municipalities of Katipunan and Sindangan in Zamboanga del Norte; Vincenso Sagun, Zamboanga del Sur; and Alicia Municipality, Zamboanga Sibugay; two units in Barangay San Pedro, Dapitan City, to augment the existing 300 metric tons cold storage facility inaugurated by Sec. Proceso J. Alcala in April this year. (JPA/DA9/GCC/PIA9-Pagadian)

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