Cagayan de Oro City News

From Zamboanga.com :Portal to The Philippines
Jump to: navigation, search

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

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

Cagayan de Oro - Archived News
Cagayan de oro city river.jpg
Aerial View of Cagayan de Oro City

Contents

Navy Chief visits wounded marines

By Mike U. Crismundo


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The flag-officer-in-command of the Philippine Navy (PN) visited the largest infantry division in Mindanao over the weekend and pinned medals to wounded marine soldiers in Camp Edilberto Evangelista, Cagayan de Oro City.

Vice Admiral Jose Luis M Alano , flag-officer-In-command of the Philippine Navy, was welcomed with military honors by the command group led by Brig. Gen. Ricardo R. Visaya, commanding general of the AFP’s Northeastern and Northern Mindanao 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division.

Vice Admiral Alano gave each soldier a Wounded Personnel Medal and handed out financial assistance. The Marine soldiers were wounded during an encounter with communist insurgents in the mountain area of Misamis Oriental as they were securing the province for the May 13 elections.

Meanwhile, Maj. Leo E Bongosia, spokesman of the 4th ID said in a press statement yesterday, “Military award is an essential part in the military wherein sacrifices and effort of our soldiers in securing this country from threats are given due recognition.”






Oro woman tops criminology exam

By Nicole J. Managbanag


TOPPING the recent 2013 Criminologist Board exam never crossed Xian Hilot Gaje’s mind. She is the first woman to top from her school in this male dominated program.

Xian along with Roland Bayangan tied up in the top spot garnering a rating of 90.85 percent.

The board exam in criminology was held in different cities around the country on April 7, 8, and 9. Only 5,701 out of 13,484 examinees passed the board exam and Xian topped it.

She considers herself an ordinary girl, who didn’t have any academic achievement in her elementary and high school education at San Isidro College in Malaybalay City in Bukidnon.

Xian was born in Malaybalay City on April 5, 1990.

Her father is Tiburcio M. Gaje, a master seargent of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Her mother is Tita H. Gaje who hails from Surigao Del Sur.

She is the eldest child among her three siblings; Hardy, Herald Xsing and Shenen.

Her closely-knit family seems too imposing that she wanted a change of atmosphere prompting her to want to live independently. After high school graduation, she decided to study criminology at Cagayan de Oro College – PHINMA Education Network instead of taking up education, her first choice.

Born under the sign of Aries, Xian is a strong-willed enterprising and adventurous woman who can easily adapt to her new world, find new friends and lives an easy going lifestyle that somehow set aside her studies for a while.

She shared that there came a time when she went out of focus, engaged into vices and attended parties like it has no end. She became rebellious at one point and quit school for a year.

The inspiration from her fiancé Police Officer 1 Gibson T. Enterina and the never ending moral support of her family brought her back to her senses to move on with a fresh start.

The rough times she went through brought her focus back. She instilled the mind over matter approach that toughened her aspiration to become a cop.

To cut the story short, all the hardwork paid off and she graduated with flying colors.

With the help of her school administrators, Xian was all geared up for the next step to her dreams: the board exam.

Indeed, she brought pride and honor to her family and school.

The school through Dr. Gerry J. Caño, the dean of the college of criminology, rewarded her with P75,000 on Friday, May 17.

Caño hopes that what Xian learned from school will be her tool as she embraces the realities now.

Xian may now be the envy of some, perhaps she'd be an inspiration for others to do well at school.

Despite her success, her fame did not go to her head, she remains humble and chooses to teach the basic criminology subject in her alma mater to inspire the students to strive hard and achieve their dreams.

Teaching is her way of giving back to her school and it is also her way of going back to her first love. She also plans to work in the Commission on Human Rights and serve justice to people without asking anything in return.

Liberal Party-CDO sponsors thanksgiving mass

By Bobby Lagsa


WIN or lose, all the Liberal Party (LP) candidates in Cagayan de Oro city attended the thanksgiving mass celebrated at St. Augustine Cathedral early evening Friday.

Leading the slate is LP mayor-elect Oscar Moreno who won against incumbent mayor Vicente Emano.

First District Congressman Rolando Uy arrived with Edgar Cabanlas who was defeated by incumbent Vice Mayor Cesar Ian Acenas.

Moreno came with his family – his wife Arlene and daughter Imee and her family.

Supporters of Moreno and the rest of the party also attended the thanksgiving mass.

Church goers also mingled with the LP slate as they congratulated them even though only five out of the 16 LP candidates won seats in the City Council.

Vendors outside the cathedral were also eager to meet Moreno.

Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma celebrated the thanksgiving mass.

In his homily, Ledesma said he shares with city’s aspiration of a renewed and invigorated leadership where everyone can contribute for the good of the society.

Ledesma called for a multi-sectoral participation in the city governance saying – “this is where we can make the call for a multi-sectoral groups in society in what we now call the civil society which includes the church, media, schools, NGOs, those who do not belong to government in the formal sense, but in another sense, belongs to the wider view of good governance.

Ledesma also stressed on the need for political charity in the city stressing that love is not only interpersonal but also social and political as it can be in terms of how those who govern can reach for the common good for everyone.

“With political charity, servant leadership is formed, an antithesis of egoism and individualism,” Ledesma emphasized.

The church, full to the brim with the usual Friday churchgoers, exalted the election of Moreno after the mass.

Several vendors commented that it is a good sign, “that the mayor actually goes to mass.”

Moreno told reporters that during the first months of his leadership, he will focus more in healing and streamlining bureaucracy in the city to further serve the people of the Cagayan de Oro.

Bambi Emano wins Misamis Oriental gubernatorial race

By Froilan Gallardo


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews/17 May)—The father had fallen, but not the son.

Rep. Yevgeny Vicente “Bambi” Emano was proclaimed the winner of the gubernatorial race in Misamis Oriental.

The Commission on Elections said Emano got 190,986 votes compared to his rival, Vice Governor Norris Babiera, who garnered only 170,321 votes.

Bambi Emano is the son of Cagayan de Oro Mayor Vicente Emano.

His victory is the only redeeming factor in the political dynasty whose dominance in Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental started three decades ago, when the Emano patriarch was then elected town mayor in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.

The elder Emano, known for his political astuteness, was defeated by Misamis Oriental Gov. Oscar Moreno during Monday’s hotly contested mayoral race in Cagayan de Oro.

The elder Emano has still his daughter Nadya Emano and her husband, President Elipe, in the Cagayan de Oro City council after winning last Monday’s elections.

“The seed that my father had planted in Misamis Oriental will continue to grow. I promised to continue his legacy,” Bambi told supporters who trooped to the Misamis Oriental provincial capitol where he was proclaimed last Thursday afternoon.

Bambi also promised to “clean” the bureaucracy at the provincial government.

For his part, the elder Emano said that despite his defeat, he was happy to see his son winning the gubernatorial post, which he held for three consecutive terms during the 90s.

“I am assured that Bambi will continue to serve the people of Misamis Oriental,” he told their supporters.

Bambi’s running mate, Joey Pelaez, was also proclaimed the winner in the vice gubernatorial race.

Incumbent Rep. Pedro Unabia was reelected for a third term in the first congressional district, beating Clyde Abbot with a margin of at least 80,000 votes.

Villanueva town mayor Juliet Uy won over former Rep. Jun Baculio in the second congressional district. Uy garnered 50,750 votes against Baculio’s 40,905 votes. (Froilan Gallardo/MindaNews)

Namfrel needs more ERs to start parallel count

By Abigail C. Malalis


THREE days after the elections, the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) has yet to receive more election returns (ERs) from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to do its parallel count.

Namfrel noted a breakdown of eight precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines that resulted in slow canvassing of ERs at Comelec.

Nestor Banuag, Namfrel Cagayan de Oro-Misamis Oriental chairman, said eight PCOS machines used in various polling places in the city did not function. He was worried that it has caused the delay in the counting of ballots and the transmission of election results to the Board of Canvassers after the scheduled 7 p.m. closing during the election day.

Banuag said Namfrel sent its sweepers to get the ERs from the municipal or city canvassing boards so it can start its overdue parallel count.

Newly elected Cagayan de Oro Mayor Oscar Moreno along with reelected Representative Rufus Rodriguez of the city’s second district and first district’s Representative-elect Rolando Uy were proclaimed Tuesday evening after the Board of Canvassers reached more than 90 percent of the total ERs canvassed.

“So far, we are still collecting ERs from the Comelec office,” Banuag told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.

However, Banuag said initial voters’ turnout as of 11 a.m. of May 14 for the city’s first district reached 56.35 percent with 70,219 encoded voters out of the 124,613 registered voters.

District two has also recorded 56.50 percent voters’ turnout with 86,625 encoded voters from the 153,318 registered voters.

Newly elected governor of Misamis Oriental, incumbent Representative Yevgeny Vincente Emano of the province’s second district, is also scheduled to be proclaimed Wednesday evening.

The delay of the proclamation was also due to the breakdown of some PCOS machines in several precincts in different municipalities in Misamis Oriental.

Emano won over Vice Governor Norris Babiera with almost 10,000 votes as of Tuesday evening.

Lawyer Noli Pipo, Comelec regional director, said his office has yet to receive ERs from different provinces before they can give the region’s voters’ turnout.

PCOS glitches delay proclamation in MisOr

By Nicole J. Managbanag


MINOR glitches of the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines in some municipalities of Misamis Oriental province have caused the delay of the proclamation of winners in the provincial candidates.

Lawyer Cirilo Nala Jr., chairman of the provincial board of canvasser (PBOC), said the automated canvassing of votes could have been finished on time and winning candidates would have been proclaimed earlier if it not for the technical problems of PCOS machines in some precincts in the municipalities of Salay, Claveria, Sugbongcogon, Manticao and Gingoog city.

Earlier, the provincial Comelec office adjourned its canvassing around 10 p.m. Monday after the election returns (ERs) have not been delivered yet from different the municipalities.

The canvassing resumed around 7 a.m. Tuesday.

The canvassing team waited until midnight for the ERs of the remaining municipalities to be transmitted to complete the canvassing. Still it was reset today (Wednesday) hoping that this time the compact flash (CF) cards will finally work.

Nala blamed the delay of transmission and proclamation to the damaged CF cards, slow network signals, and the continuing downpour.

The Comelec ordered the affected municipalities to bring the ERs to the headquarters for the manual counting.

Despite minor glitches, Nala announced that the election was generally successful, “which proved that we have credible elections using the PCOS machines.”

Nala said that when they did the random manual auditing in the municipalities of Balingoan for district 1 and Lugait for District 2, it showed the same and accurate result between the manual and automated counting.

He said through this experience, Comelec will learn and be wiser come the presidential elections in 2016.

Nala expressed concern over the 2016 elections in regard to the PCOS machines.

He said the PCOS machines used for this year’s election may no longer be usable in the next election if they aren’t taken care of.

The machines, he said, will be kept in warehouses that are prone to mold and heat, thus, possible damage in the next three years is inevitable.

Nala hoped that by 2016, Comelec will purchase new models of PCOS machines with higher specifications enough to eliminate human intervention through the adoption of higher computerized systems.






PCOS breakdowns delay voting

By Annabelle L. Ricalde


A “WIDESPREAD” malfunction of precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines has delayed the first hour of voting in various polling precincts in Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental during Monday’s elections.

Nestor Banuag Jr., National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) provincial coordinator for Cagayan de Oro-Misamis Oriental chapter, was apprehensive that delays of voting due to malfunctioning PCOS machines could disenfranchise many voters who were impatient to cast their votes.

“Labina sa kainit sa panahon, ang mga emotion dili mapugngan possible mag-cause og violence but hopefully dili kana mahitabo, anyway naa man ang atong mga PNP (The extreme heat and flaring emotions might possibly cause violence but hopefully it wouldn’t come to that. Anyway, we have the PNP personnel to take care of that),” he told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.

Among the polling places where the PCOS machines experienced glitches are South City Central School in barangay Nazareth; Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School (MOGCHS); Consolacion, Macasandig, and City Central Schools, including three barangays in Binuangan town in Misamis Oriental where the members of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) are focusing on manual collection of ballots.

Aside from the malfunctioning of PCOS, the disenfranchisement of voters’ name has been another common problem in every election.

Banuag stated that PCOS technicians are now fixing those defective voting machines.

“Mao lagi na ang question sa mga volunteers nga kanus-a gamiton na sa election nag-malfunction na hinuon nga okey man unta during sa final testing and sealing except sa mga identified nga defective PCOS machines (Our volunteers were wondering why the PCOS machines have malfunctioned when they were doing good during the final testing and sealing except for the defective PCOS machines),” he said.

In Barangay 22, as of 9 a.m. Monday two voters failed to find their names in spite of the assistance of Namfrel volunteers.

Lita Balbutin, Namfrel volunteer, who manned the voter’s assistance desk at Corrales Elementary School advised the two voters to proceed to the office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

“We just learned from the Comelec that it can issue a special permit alang sa mga botante nga nawala ang pangalan, so moadto lang sila sa Comelec kung asa man sila nga barangay na-belong aron matagaan sila og special permit signed by Atty. Palamine aron makabotar na sila,” Banuag added.

The presence of barangay officials in some areas have been noticed by the volunteers prompting Namfrel them to call on those barangay officials to stay away from the polling places unless they are also watchers.

Another concern seen by the volunteers was the issuance of priority numbers which have already prohibited by the Comelec to prevent possible vote buying.

“Naay identified group nga nanglista kinsa ang naglinya which is bawal kay parehas ra gihapon na sa priority number so gibadlong na pud sa mga volunteers (There was an identified group who made a list of those who were standing in line which is prohibited since it’s tantamount to having priority number. They were asked by the volunteers to stop the listing),” Banuag said.






Campaigns conclude with final rallies

By Annabelle L. Ricalde and Nicole J. Managbanag


AS THE campaign period ended on Saturday, candidates made their last efforts in their “miting de avance” (final rally).

Mayoral candidate Governor Oscar S. Moreno, who heads the Team Oca under the Liberal Party received a standing ovation from over 17,000 supporters during the party’s final rally at the Pelaez Sports Center on Velez street.

Standing before the thousands of yellow-shirt clad supporters who joined the last day of the campaigns, Moreno shows confidence that he’d win the seat over his rival incumbent city Mayor Vicente Y. Emano in today’s elections.

Moreno and the other candidates were overwhelmed by the warm support they received from Kagay-anons, especially from former Senate President Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel Jr. who wanted to get out from what they called the “dark leadership of Emano and hope for a wonderful world.”

Pimentel’s speech was short and pleaded to the voters to vote for all candidates of Team Cagayan de Oro, especially his son, re-electionist Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel.

“Siguraduhon nato nga ang sunod nga tawo nga ipasulod sa city hall dili kawatan (Let us make sure that the next person who will run the city hall is not a thief),” Pimentel added.

Just like the lyrics of the song “What a wonderful world” that he sang before his speech, Moreno assured that Kagay-anons will experience a wonderful world to live in if he will be given a chance to serve as the next mayor.

He said his administration will become the tool to solve poverty, bring the dignity back to the people, and bring a new day and tomorrow that that have been taken away by the Emano administration.

The final rally of team Oca came was more of a fun fare showcasing various production numbers, merriment and calling the roll of candidates.

Maricel Casiño-Rivera, LP-CDO staff, said they intend to stay away from the usual speeches so as not to prolong hours of the ‘miting de avance’ since the people have repeatedly heard the candidates’ platforms.

“Na-memorize na sa mga tawo ang gipanulti sa mga kandidato, so lighter side na lang ta aron ma-relax pud ang mga kandidato og ang mga tawo,” she added.

The summaries of their platforms were recounted briefly, unlike the traditional programs wherein supporters usually would get bored listening to the long speeches.

Casiño-Rivera said they were so thankful to the various event organizers who gave their services for free for Team Oca.

The program ended with a song that Pimentel sang and dedicated to Moreno. He was like a prophet giving a blessing to a new leader who will lead his people to a better life.

Referring to Moreno in his song, Pimentel sang, “you are my sunshine” and the sunshine to Cagayan de Oro, ready to shine to make everyone happy and make a difference in the city.

The program ended earlier, the people who joined in the final leg of the campaign left the Pelaez Sports Center inspired and hopeful with the promises made by their candidates.

Emano finally rally

Despite of the rain, the avid supporters of Padayon Pilipino were unstoppable.

People from different barangays in Cagayan de Oro gathered and filled the Rodelsa Circle Rotunda Saturday night.

Some came with their umbrellas and caps. However, many even came without anything in hand and not giving care about the rain.

When the rain stopped, more people arrived. Some were listening and some did not seem to care about what is happening. People came and went. When a group arrived, another group left.

Supporters from all walks of life

When asked why he came, Mark Joseph Sumabong said, “Para mosuporta sa Mayor ug Congressman.” With him are his family and friends, who positioned themselves near the stage to have a better view.

“Ni-anhi ko para musuporta sa akong tito,” said John Michael Sabellina, who came to support his uncle Ian Nacaya who is running for the 2nd district representative.

When asked why he supports the Padayon Pilipino candidates, he said, it is because of their “Ka-tsada sa plataporma, kredibilidad, ug eksperiensya (Nice platform, credibility and experience),” he shared.

Supporters spoke

“Musuporta ko kang Oca kay kabalo ko sa iyang agi. Sa iyang pagka-gobernador, nakita nako iyang kamaayohan sa mga katawhan”, Al Nair Moralde said.

Katrina Fernandez, 24 years old, supports Oca and said: “I saw him elevate Misamis Oriental and that’s a wide area, how much more if he will lead the city? Hapsay najud ang Cagayan de Oro kung siya na ang mayor.”

“Sa lahat siguro ng kumandidato pagka-mayor, si Oca Moreno ang nag si-symbolize nga pagbabago ang nagsi-symbolize ng bagong liderato na naniniwala sa tamang pamamalakad ng ating dakbayan sa Cagayan de Oro. Nakikita ko sa kanya bilang isang administrador mula pa siya’y congressman at gobernador, na marami siyang napatupad na hindi natupad ng kasalukuyang lider ng lungsod. Marami siyang pagbabagong nagawa para sa Misamis Oriental lalo na sa health, environment, peace and order and all theother needs of Misamis Oriental that was not met by the present leaders of Cagayan de Oro,” Ma. Theresa Rivera said.

“Sa hapsay ta bai,” had been heard throughout the dome. The masses had been shouting this line together with all running candidates of the Liberal Party.

A sari-sari store owner, Analyn Bacutana, said this year’s election is intense and said: “Threat jud kay Emano si Oca. Diri nato mabal-an ang kalahi-an sa duha ka kandidato. Pero wala pako kabalo unsa’y mga kabag-ohan sa siyudad kung siya mudaog pero magsalig lang gyud ko sa iya. I-ampo nato ang kahapsay aning dakbayan!”

A housewife, Mylene Edol, said: “Tinud-anay nagyud ni nga kahapsay ang kay Oca. Daghan napud siya nabuhat sa Misamis Oriental. Kami mga taga-Gusa, full support jud kay Oca kay si Emano daghan anomalya. Lahi ragyud magpadagan si Oca busa didto gyud mi kung asa ang kahapsay!”

Trash

For all the campaign trash the candidates were passionately countering, literal trash filled the streets.

Unchecked, supporters of Emano and his party threw styrofoam containers anywhere which earlier contained meals hastily consumed on whatever surface available during the Padayon Pilipino Party’s final campaign.

And despite the thousands present, policemen were scarcely in sight.

At Moreno’s rally, the supporters also left piles of trash like plastic, styrofoam and mineral bottles in the venue, and gave extra work to the street cleaners. (With reports from Angela Bernice Cabildo, Princess Jia Artajo, and Cesar Stefan Rago)






Mom’s vote

By sunstar.com.ph


BEING a mother is a choice we get to make in a lifetime.

Some of us become birth mothers by circumstance, as I have become; some of us are thrust into the responsibility of motherhood without so much a thought or a warning.

But most women rise to meet the challenge of this world called Motherhood.

And as it becomes so, we become Mothers, in the true essence of the word; because, we become Mothers only by conscious choice.

In that moment of decision, we take that commitment to put our child before ourselves;

We actively make a choice to become not just birth mothers, but also nurturers and protectors for a lifetime.

Mothers are complicated creatures;

We are made of steel but with arms soft enough to give warm hugs. We are often the small constant voice in a household; but most likely the only word being listened to. We are strict but fair; the sometimes annoying but mostly well-loved;

As mothers, we take in all the work that we can, burning the midnight candle to earn a living, and to provide for the basic needs of a child; Yet we also create time for bedtime stories and homework;

We wake up early to put quick breakfast on mornings yet linger to talk about the day ahead ; we save for the rainy days so we can watch our kids sleep soundly at night, yet we can spare a peso for that extra scoop of gelato;

We make decisions in a blink of an eye, but out from a well-thought out plan. We think with a million reasons, yet we listen closely to what our hearts say. We keep order in the house, but find days of chaos-- of unkempt rooms with toys and books scattered, allowable.

Mothers are made of opposite poles, amazingly merged into compromise and understanding. We are complicated, but really, just quite simple.

Mothers are thinkers, more than emotional; we are foremost, creatures of reason. We think more than we feel; but we are not unfeeling. We fight for what is right and what is due, but we are often drawn to peace and harmony.

This weekend, the whole nation is in a pandemonium over the May 2013 elections. And as the cosmos would have it, it falls just a day short of Mothers’ Day.

So this year, as a mother, I will celebrate Mothers’ Day by casting my vote and choosing a leader who can be the voice of mothers: of women, and of children.

As we enter the voting precincts and choose our leaders, remember to be a Mother.

Remember to choose a leader: who will protect our children; to keep them from harm, abuse and exploitation; who will be able to fight for better health care: accessible and available to all; who believes that women have the right for the basic reproductive and maternal health care; who will fight for the rights of us women against discrimination and violence; who will fight for our children to have the basic education; to be able to learn and understand; to be able to reason and become our future learned leaders; who will put our country, our interest and our children’s interest first; who will understand and truly represent the voice of this marginalized sector.

This Monday, let us be the Mothers of our country.

Let’s choose wisely so our children can keep the freedom that we enjoy today.

Make a conscious choice.

DSWD warns against 'Noy-Noy Aquino Foundation' text scam

By Recthie T. Paculba


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, May 10 -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development on May 6 warned the public against a new wave of scam text messages claiming they have won hundreds of thousands of pesos from the "President Noy-Noy Aquino Foundation."

"We have already issued earlier warnings before but there are really people out to mislead so let us all be vigilant," said DSWD secretary Corazon Soliman.

The Department said it learned of the scam after many callers informed its Pantawid Pamilya National Program Monitoring Office (NPMO).

It said the text message claims the recipient won P950,000 from the "President Noy-Noy Aquino Foundation 4Ps Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program."

Recipient were then asked to text their "complete name, age, address, work.”

"The DSWD emphasizes that this is not true because the Department does not hold raffle promos or draws," the DSWD said.

It urged recipients to report the text to the nearest DSWD office or text to the Pantawid Pamilya Grievance Text Hotline 0918-912-2813. (RTP/PIA10)

Widow of murdered American wants personal belongings returned

By (PNA)

DSP/CD/BEN BALCE/UTB


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, May 9 (PNA) – The widow of murdered American Michael Alan Turner on Thursday demanded the return of her husband's personal belongings that included three Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards.

Turner’s wife Marissa complained that a certain SPO2 Jonathan Eduave who conducted the investigation at the municipal town of Opol refused to release Turner’s personal belongings although the case has been filed in court.

These items include the wallet with three ATM card, Mont Blanc Pen valued at P 5,000 color gold with the engraved name of Michael Turner, one phone 4 (black colour), one Samsung Galaxy S, Nokia N3 and C3 (small) and one Swiss knife.

Marissa said inside the wallet were 3 ATM cards of Metrobank card, Union Bank (Visa) card and Union Bank (EON) card, driver’s license, some IDs.

She said she wants the ATM card so she could withdraw money for their son but she could not do so since Eduave continually refused to turn over Turner’s personal belongings.

“I am afraid that the cash deposit which might amount to P 500,000 at these ATM cards had been compromised,” Marissa said.

She said she went to the bank to inquire on transactions made with the ATM cards but she could not do so because the ATM cards are not with her.

“I am the only one authorized to withdraw for those ATM cards which Michael said have money coming in in February,” Marissa added.

Turner, 54, who ran a business processing office (BPO) here was gunned down on the morning of February 18, 2013 while strolling along the beach of Opol by three suspects who had been charged in court.

Jose Pallugna, a Turner’s lawyer, said that the Opol police who was handling the case has not made any arrest also complete information about the suspects had been already been provided to them.

He said the Opol police also refused to release Turner’s wallet and personal belongings to his wife Marissa despite demands.

Misamis Oriental acting provincial police director Senior Supt. Leonilo Cabug said that the case was already in court and the police are still investigating the case.

“She (Marissa) could get the wallet anytime from the Opol police investigator although other belongings of Turner that included a pickup could be used as evidence in court,” Cabug said.

Gov't readies reforestation of Cagayan de Oro

By (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)


A SIX-MEMBER validation team has been formed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to identify the areas to be covered by the massive reforestation program in Cagayan de Oro, which was devastated by tropical storm "Sendong" (international name: Washi) in December 2011.

The project is in line with Republic Act 10452 that seeks to plant some 3,000 hectares in the city.

Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said the validation team, composed of forestry and urban planning officers, is tasked to prioritize villages surrounding the Cagayan de Oro River which failed to hold the huge amount of rainfall brought by Sendong that eventually poured into low lying areas of the city and triggered flashfloods.

Data from DENR-Northern Mindanao show that at least 11 low-lying villages along the river were seriously hit by flashfloods: Carmen, Consolacion, Balulang, Macasandig, Nazareth, Sitio Taguanao, and Barangays 6, 7, 13, 15, and 17.

The program will also include former concession areas covered by timber license agreement earlier issued by the government, said Agustilo Obsioma, DENR-Northern Mindanao technical director for forestry.

Obsioma said the ground mapping and validation of these areas, using the global positioning system (GPS) technology, would take at least two weeks.

Sendong left more than 1,200 people dead and destroyed P1.3 billion in agriculture and properties in Cagayan de Oro and nearby Iligan City.

"The enactment of RA 10452 came at a most opportune time, just as the national government is making an unprecedented push to reforest the country through the NGP (National Greening Program) and the nationwide logging ban in natural and residual forests," Paje said.

NGP is the government's flagship reforestation program that seeks to plant some 1.5 billion trees covering about 1.5 million hectares in six years ending in 2016.

Cagayan de Oro's forestland area covers 20,702 hectares or about 48 percent of the city's total land area of 42,246 hectares.

The center

By Arnold Alamon


WHILE we endure the heat of the times brought to us by the tail-end of the season, the election season, I strongly feel that we must recall the events of that cold and tragic early morning more than a year ago to give us a necessary perspective.

In the dawn of the 17th of December 2011, thousands of our fellow citizens of Cagayan de Oro City woke up to violent churning waters on their doorstep. In a matter of minutes, water, mud, and debris, rampaged through the homes of our friends, relatives, and fellow residents, hundreds of whom were washed to the open sea and remain missing to this day.

It was a difficult time for all Kagay-anons when we all woke up to the death and destruction that Sendong brought that fateful dawn. It was a bright and sunny morning after, I remember. It was clearer to see all the more the wasteland and the horror. In the eyes of the bereaved and displaced, one could feel that the city's spirit had been crushed.

The first question on everyone's minds then was why this tragedy had to happen to a City that had always thought of itself as exempt from such occurrences.

Before we could even begin to answer this question, we were waylaid by the humanitarian disaster in our midst. The dead were literally piling on the streets, not a few were thrown in the garbage dump. The survivors were hungry, wet, and homeless.

It came to us as a shock to realize that the disaster was not a one-time event but instead a series of tragedies that came in waves after the initial onslaught. Food, shelter, well-being, sanity, and especially a sense of security were just some of the issues that came to the fore.

And no one was exempt from these vital concerns - the rich, middle class, and the poor were all affected as the City and its enterprises were brought to a standstill. It came to the point that on social media there was already a disconcerting anti-poor stance. The middle class brought to the brink of bankruptcy by the merciless flood that washed away their life-long savings began to brandish their tax-paying abilities for more relief entitlements versus the urban poor.

Amid the confusion and the grief, the city was searching for a gravity and center upon whom they can possibly derive their strength. We looked towards City Hall but all we got was a mute puff of second hand smoke. There was certainly a crisis of leadership. The center did not hold.

Not much was expected, and people were generally patient. But days passed and no tangible coordinated effort to relieve the problems was forthcoming from the officialdom. It had to take private citizens, the academe, and some national line agencies to come together and establish a relief center before a semblance of help began reaching affected communities.

How we got from that point to here now is less the achievement of official help and more because of our private and communitarian efforts. Our strength came mainly from the bottomless well of resilience that all of us have to rely on in the face of constant government abandonment. In the eve of the elections, the lessons of Sendong must not be forgotten.

It is regrettable that we are distracted by character assassinations instead of discussing issues of leadership and accountability in the current conduct of our local elections. If the two issues are indeed related, then we have wasted far too much time in partisanship instead of talking about programs and policies to avert a similar situation.

Ultimately, the painful lesson Sendong taught us is that the consequences of bad leadership is fatal and even heinous. We cannot have complacent leaders who have been in power for far too long to manage a bustling city whose needs and requirements have also grown.

We also cannot have leaders who only cater to the whim of the old political and economic elite without considering the needs of the seemingly hidden but burgeoning urban poor sector suddenly revealed by the floods and its aftermath.

More importantly, the City needs a center, a leader, who can represent the various divergent interests of a growing migrant city - a leader who can bind together the people towards a bright shared future.

If this is too much to ask, then maybe the point of this all is not to entrust our City's destiny completely on our elected leaders' shoulders.

Come to think of it, the elections are just a political exercise but the challenges of a real democracy actually take place after. And democracies, at least ideally, are ultimately an expression of the collective will. This necessitates our continued militancy and participation in the affairs of our beloved City beyond Election Day.






Philippine Art Awards 2014 launched in Oro

By Bobby Lagsa


FOLLOWING the achievement and success of Jake Vamenta, a Kagay-anon who won both the prestigious Philippine Art Awards (PAA) and the Metrobank Art Awards 2013, at least 40 visual artists from Northern Mindanao flocked to the launching of the Philippine Art Awards 2014 at Xavier University on May 2. The PAA, one of the country’s most coveted awards is on its 15th year, and Cagayan de Oro has yielded the likes of Errol Balcos, Christopher Gomez and Kelly Ramos-Palaganas and Gerald Saway of Lantapan, Bukidnon. According to Hobart Savior, director of the Xavier Center for Culture and the Arts, Mindanao is a treasure trove of artists that needs exposure in the national level. The participation of Mindanaoan artists in the 2012 PAA yielded more than 50 submissions where Vamenta won the top award for his winning piece, the oil and pastel painting entitled “Ang Walang Humpay na Harana ni Temyong kay Magda.” Jacks Mariano, a secretariat of the PAA, said the awards, which are divided categorically into Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and Metro Manila art awards, will yield top 10 art works for each collective regional area. “Out of the 10 for each regional area, eight will vie for the national level, and all 40 art pieces will be displayed on an exhibit in their respective region,” Mariano said. Savior added that the PAA aims at elevating Mindanao art and artists into the consciousness of the public. Ivan Macarambon, resident artist of the Misamis Oriental Provincial Government, said that such award will also encourage artists to present their body of work. “Art is by itself, a social commentary that can be used to lift consciousness of the current situation,” Macarambon said. Macarambon wished to see new names from Cagayan de Oro that will join the awards. “That way, we can see growth in the art scenes and we can see the direction of the art here in our city.” Rhyan Casino, regional coordinator of the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts (NCCA), said that with the number of Mindanao artists joining the award, it came to the fore the need to map artists and create a database. Such database can be use to promote art advocacy and empowerment of artists and strengthen arts in the region. Savior pointed out that artists work outside the traditional work model and have little social coverage. “It is imperative that artists will coalesce to form a stronger bargaining position for their work. That way, art is not given almost at a bargain,” Savior said. The Philippine Art Awards is a prime venue for artists wanting to get to the national level and reach the consciousness of art collectors. Jake Vamenta said that with his winning piece, Manila art connoisseurs took notice of the artists from Cagayan de Oro. “We have Balcos, Ramos, Gomez, Louie Ano-os, among others who are making names in Manila. We have a very active art scene and this empowers every artist in the city to create more work,” Vamenta said. Vamenta added that artists like him do a lot of work. “Create more work, the more we create, the more we get creative and the more our work gets better.” Vamenta won a total of P390,000 for his entry and it was sold in an undisclosed amount to a private collector. Mariano said the juror’s choice award of excellence will receive P120,000 each and the juror’s choice award for merit will get P80,000 each. The winners will also receive a trophy, and a work of art from national artist Ben Cabrera. The PAA, a visual arts competition, aims at supporting the development of Philippine contemporary art and increasing the national and regional exposure for Philippine art and artist. It also encourages, inspires and rewards creative works by contemporary Philippine artist, with the intent to nurture their talents and provide a platform for established and emerging Philippine artists and their works to be recognized through exhibits and allow ample cross-cultural exposure.

Strict implementation of anti-bullying law in schools sought

By (PNA)

PDS/CD/PJN


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, May 5 (PNA) -- School administrators should be responsible for the implementation and oversight of policies intended to address bullying in their respective schools, Vice Mayor Caesar Ian Acenas on Sunday said.

This after the City Council recently passed an ordinance which aims to stop bullying in schools. Acenas said that the City Council approved the ordinance noting the alarming problem of bullying among students.

The vice mayor, however, could not give any statistics due refusal of some sectors to report the problem.

Acenas said that the ordinance requires school personnel, students, parents or volunteers to immediately report any instance of bullying or acts of retaliation witnessed or that has come to their attention to the school administrator, school officer, or person designated to handle such issues.

Upon receipt of such reports, the school administrator is required to promptly investigate the incident and notify the law enforcement agency if a criminal charge may be pursued; take appropriate disciplinary action against the perpetrator; notify parents or guardian of victims regarding action taken to prevent any further acts of bullying or retaliation.

City Councilor Ramon Tabor, author of the ordinance, said bullying not only inflicts physical and psychological harm but also leaves an emotional scar to students, thereby adversely affecting their studies, social personality and their lives.

The author believes that there is a need to shape the conduct of students to instill discipline and essential values so as to integrate them to be productive, dynamic and industrious citizens of the city and to devise appropriate remedies to address bullying in order to protect the well-being of students and for the peace of mind of parents and guardians, Acenas added.

Laguindingan airport needs MRP to facilitate travel of passengers

By (PNA)

HBC/GHG/CD/NELSON V. CONSTANTINO/PJN


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, May 4 (PNA) -- Government’s failure to include the Mindanao Railway Project in its priority development projects will have negative effects in the operation of the Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental.

Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said this, adding the railway system would be the best complement to the Laguindingan Airport to provide passengers comfortable travel and fast access to the airport.

The MRP — a vital development project that was designed to complement the Laguindingan Airport — failed to take off from the blueprint despite the completion in 2009 of the P71 million feasibility study by three private consulting firms hired by Dept. of Transportation and Communications.

Rodriguez of 2nd District, Cagayan de Oro City, said the DOTC has not included the construction of the MRP in its priority projects.

The MRP will link two vital Mindanao gateways—the Laguindingan Airport and the Mindanao International Container Terminal. It will also connect, for a total length of 124-kilometer, Jasaan town in Misamis Oriental to Linamon, Lanao del Norte passing through the Cagayan-Iligan Industrial Corridor.

“While we are waiting for the opening of the Laguindingan Airport, we already hear stories of plane passengers complaining about the exorbitant fares that private taxi operators may charge commuters from Cagayan de Oro or Iligan City. Also, there are still no public vehicles that will service Laguindingan Airport,” Rodriguez said.

Laguindingan is 46-km from Cagayan de Oro and 60 kms from Iligan City.

With the impending opening of the airport, the DOTC should make the implementation of the MRP one of its priority projects under the Private-Public Partnership (PPP) program, he added.

Executive Order 536, signed by President Arroyo on May 25, 2006, created the Mindanao Railway Project Office. The MRPO was established in July 3, 2009 in Cagayan de Oro City, almost simultaneously with the Cebu Railway Project Office.

President Aquino, meanwhile, ordered deferring the opening of the Laguindingan airport to June 15 from its original schedule on April 30, 2013 until all navigation facilities and equipment shall have been installed to ensure passenger safety.






Civil society group backs Team Oca

By Annabelle L. Ricalde


CALLING for a change in leadership in Cagayan de Oro City, civil society group Managsilingan Ta has openly expressed its support to the candidacy of Misamis Oriental Governor Oscar “Oca” Moreno and Councilor Edgar Cabanlas as mayor and vice mayor, respectively, including the entire ‘Team Oca.’

Mitos Ortigas, Managsilingan Ta convenor, said that the city “needs a leader who could inspire, mobilize, energize and synergize its people to feel up to the challenge of development.”

The group declared on Wednesday its support to Team Oca and the candidacy of barangay chair Rolando Uy of Barangay Carmen as congressman in the first district.

The endorsement was held a week after Managsilingan Ta endorsed the candidacy of re-electionist Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez (second district).

The multi-group alliance also recommended a set of agenda for the endorsed candidates to fulfill once in office.

Among these: improvement of water system, health program for the poor, increased budget allotment for the J.R. Borja City Hospital, peace and order, environmental preservation and cleanliness, enforcement of traffic rules and regulations, transparency of the city hall, and balanced integrated urban-rural development.

“Managsilingan Ta believes in ‘servant leadership’ that is open to public dialogue, genuinely pro-people, and driven to promote community-development and participatory and transparent governance,” Ortigas added.

Candidates Moreno and Cabanlas are thankful to the group for the said endorsement because it has also inspired them.

Moreno said the decision of the group transcends personal consideration and preference knowing that the endorsement and support for the entire Team Oca is not that easy for the Managsilingan Ta because some of its members also have relatives from other party.

In the same way, Cabanlas also appeals to the group to give him a chance to prove his worth as there are doubts about his credibility because of his past association with Mayor Vicente Emano.

“I won’t make further explanation, hangyo ko lang, hatagi ko og chance (I ask that you give me a chance). Dako ang akong garbo nga inyong gi-endorse (It is my great pride that you have endorsed me), and what is important now is to correct the wrong system in the city government,” he added.

With these, Managsilingan Ta is hoping that the new administration will be working hand in hand with the community in order for them to become effective leaders.






6,200 volunteers simultaneously construct 600 houses in CDO

By (PNA)

PDS/CD/utb


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, May 1 (PNA) -- Exactly 6,200 volunteers on Wednesday showed up to simultaneously construct 600 houses in a relocation site in Cagayan de Oro City in a feat to qualify for the Guinness Book of Record.

Jean Awitin, a marketing staff of the Habitat for Humanity, said that the project was conceptualized along with the city government of Cagayan de Oro in deference to the observance of the Labor Day on May 1.

She said the volunteers started to show up 7:00 a.m. in downtown Cagayan de Oro’s Plaza Divisoria where buses waited to transport the volunteers to the 16-hectare relocation in Pagatpat here.

Awitin said that Habitat expects only 6,000 volunteers but the unexpected turnout reached 6,200.

“The construction of the 600 houses was simultaneously completed Wednesday,” Awitin added.

City Mayor Vicente Emano said that the houses would be distributed to “renters,” secondary victims whose rented houses were swept away by rampaging flood waters during the tragic typhoon "Sendong" in December 2011 here.

He said the remaining houses would be distributed for free to household beneficiaries living in hazardous and danger zones in Cagayan de Oro City.

Emano said that 2,000 houses were going to be constructed at the Pagatpat Relocation Site with volunteers from the Habitat for Humanity.

The Habitat for Humanity, an international organization composed of volunteers from all over the world, was among the international organizations who responded to volunteer the construction of houses in relocation sites here at the height of the tragic typhoon "Sendong", Emano added.






Include Mindanao railway in PPP, Aquino told

By Jess Diaz


MANILA, Philippines - Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez urged the Aquino administration the other day to include the proposed Mindanao railway project in its PPP (public-private partnership) program.

Rodriguez said the Mindanao railway is a viable project and private investors may be interested in undertaking it with government help.

He said the government had already spent P71 million for a feasibility study that was completed in October 2009.

“The study covers a total length of 124 kilometers from Jasaan, Misamis Oriental to Linamon, Lanao del Norte. The railway system aims to link two vital Mindanao gateways, the Laguindingan International Airport and the Mindanao Container Terminal. It will have passenger and cargo operations,” Rodriguez said.

“However, until today, not a single rail is in place. This railway system has been the dream of many Mindanaons. It will be a tremendous boost to the economy and tourism industry of Mindanao, and it will provide our people with a more convenient and faster means of travel and transport for goods,” he added.

He pointed out that the inclusion of the planned Mindanao railway system in the PPP program would mean the “realization of the dream of Mindanaoans.”

The railway system would link major cites including Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Zamboanga City, Butuan, Surigao, Davao and General Santos.

Rodriguez also asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to build new or rehabilitate existing roads leading to the new international airport in Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental.

He said the Laguindingan airport would boost tourism and trade in Northern Mindanao.





DOJ urges NBI to arrest Jerry Tomawis

ByAnnabelle L. Ricalde


THE Department of Justice (DOJ) panel of prosecutors has urged the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to enforce the arrest warrant of Sultan Yahya “Jerry” Tomawis, one of the respondents of the financial investment scams.

Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Edna Valenzuela, who led the panel of prosecutors on Friday, has called on all enforcement agencies, particularly the NBI, to arrest Tomawis.

“Sultan Yahya Tomawis is not off the hook and he can be arrested anytime, anywhere because his warrant still stands and (can be served),” Valenzuela told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro in an interview on Friday.

Tomawis is the father-in-law of suspected scam leader Jachob “Coco” Rasuman who is now detained at the NBI in Manila.

There were reports that Tomawis was with her daughter, Princess, who is Rasuman’s wife when she was arrested in Quezon City two weeks ago.

But the Pasay City Police did not arrest Tomawis after he told policemen that he was already cleared from the case and that he doesn’t have any standing warrant.

There were reports that the elder Tomawis was present during the visit of President Benigno Aquino III in Marawi City on April 22. He was allegedly escorted by the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

ALIF party-list Representative Acmad Tomawis is a brother of Sultan Yahya.

Tomawis and Rasuman’s investors are apprehensive that the government has been giving protection to the suspects than the safety of the victims.

One of the investors who requested anonymity disclosed that Rasuman has allegedly been given a special treatment at the detention facility of the NBI.

In Friday’s hearing, the prosecution panel finally presented complainant Naim Sampao in court and affirmed his affidavit of recantation, saying he is now determined to pursue the case against Tomawis.

Sampao told the court that he was pressured, and he and his family were being threatened at that time he decided to file an affidavit of desistance.

“The prosecution panel filed a motion for reconsideration against the dismissal of the case of Sultan Tomawis because of the affidavit of recantation of complainant Naim Sampao,” Valenzuela added.

The court’s order came after Sampao and other complainants Achmad Sangcaan filed their affidavit of desistance.

Valenzuela said Sampao filed his affidavit of recantation a day before the court ordered Tomawis’ dismissal.






Candidates’ backers nearly come to blows in CDO

By Cai Panlilio


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines—Supporters of opposing candidates nearly came to blows after Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, who is seeking reelection, and rival Ian Mark Nacaya traded accusations of impropriety and negligence of duty during a heated forum here on Friday. The clash was prevented when moderators from Xavier University’s Research and Social Outreach (RSO) Office intervened and told Rodriguez and Nacaya to “tone down” their tirades and to ask their supporters to keep their cool. Rodriguez criticized Nacaya, chairman of the city council’s police, fire and public safety committee, for the city government’s alleged failure to stop rising criminality in the city. He said that since January this year, more than 300 robberies were recorded in the city. Rodriguez said it was ironic that Nacaya was employed by the city government but was remiss in his duties as chairman of the public safety committee against criminality. “There is a P60-million intelligence fund allotted to the local government but nothing has been done about peace and order in the city,” he said. Rodriguez also blamed Nacaya and Mayor Vicente Emano for the prevalence of mining in the city, saying the councilor helped issue permits to miners. Rodriguez said the issuance of permits took place while he was working for the passage of a total mining ban in Congress. For his part, Nacaya said Rodriguez’s idea of good governance was to spend millions for the construction of a road to a farm that the lawmaker owned and for projects intended for Barangay (village) Nazareth, where he resided. “The congressional office has a P70-million fund, but P6.8 million of it was used by Congressman Rufus Rodriguez solely for his village, where his sister serves as barangay captain,” he said. As Rodriguez and Nacaya exchanged tirades, their supporters geared up for a physical confrontation. When the moderators sensed trouble, they approached the two candidates and asked them to calm down and to tell their supporters to remain in their seats. In a bid to defuse the tension, another candidate for representative announced that he had accepted his defeat even as the balloting had yet to take place. Independent candidate Eric Saarenas, who drew laughter from the crowd, turned serious when it was his time to speak, proposing that the priority development fund be scrapped “as this is the cause of all corruption.”






Army chief in CDO relieved

By Nikko Dizon


MANILA, Philippines—The military leadership on Friday relieved Maj. Gen. Nestor Anonuevo as head of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division based in Camp Evangelista in Cagayan de Oro in the aftermath of the ambush by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels on the convoy of Gingoog City Mayor Ruthie Guingona whose two bodyguards were killed. Brig. Gen. Ricardo Visaya replaced Anonuevo as officer in charge of the 4th ID which has jurisdiction over the entire Northern Mindanao and part of the Caraga region. In a phone interview, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Emmanuel Bautista, however, did not categorically say that Anonuevo was relieved but instead said there was a “reshuffling of players to change our approach” in dealing with the challenges in the field. Asked if the decision to replace Anonuevo was a result of the ambush on Mayor Guingona, Bautista replied: “Like in a basketball game, we change our strategy. We are looking for an approach that can be effective. It’s not necessarily just because of a single incident… Analyzing the ongoing situation, we need a different approach.” Gingoog Mayor Guingona, 78, a member of President Aquino’s Liberal Party (LP) and wife of former Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr., suffered bullet wounds in the arms and feet. She was returning with a six-member escort from a town fiesta in Alatagan, Misamis Oriental, when they were ambushed by NPA rebels. Gingoog City is in Misamis Oriental which is under the jurisdiction of the 4th ID. Bautista said the decision to replace Anonuevo “went through a process.” Asked where Anonuevo would be assigned next, Bautista said it would be up to the Army leadership. Bautista and Anonuevo are both members of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class 1981. According to Bautista, the ambush on Mayor Guingona by communist insurgents was a “wake up call” for everyone to fight and end the decades-long armed struggle waged by the NPA. In an interview, Bautista also said that an armed struggle was a “Jurassic methodology, which nobody in these modern times believe in anymore.” “It is a wake-up call for all of us that we need to end the armed struggle… It’s about time that we get together as a nation to finally put an end to violence and to the armed struggle. That is not the solution to our problems,” Bautista told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo. Bautista admitted he was upset over a photograph on the Inquirer’s front page on Wednesday showing supporters of the National Democratic Front (NDF) at a rally with a poster proclaiming that civil war is the answer to poverty (“Digmaan bayan sagot sa kahirapan”). “Bayanihan and not civil war is my answer to that photograph because if there is civil war, then all the more we would be mired in poverty. That is the reality. More people will become poor because of war. Civil war is not the solution to our problems. The answer to our problems is for us to engage in Bayanihan. We should help each other,” Bautista said in a mix of English and Filipino. Bautista noted that while communist insurgents claim to fight for the people, NPAs were harassing civilians even in poverty and calamity stricken areas. “We should all work together because they are not only attacking our soldiers, even civilians are being ambushed. There are so many incidents already,” he said. Bautista said that even before Guingona’s ambush, the NPA had owned up to the incident in La Castellana town in Negros Occidental last February where nine civilians where killed.






New 4th army division commander installed

By (PNA)

HBC/CD/ABB


CAMP EVANGELISTA, Cagayan de Oro City, April 26 (PNA) -– The army’s 4th Infantry “Diamond” Division has a new division commander following a simple turnover at the division’s command conference room Friday afternoon.

Maj. Leo S. Bongasia, spokesperson of the army’s 4th ID, said that Brig. Gen. Ricardo R Visaya took over the reins of leadership of the 4ID from Maj. Gen. Nestor A Añonuevo.

A well decorated military officer, Visayas was Assistant Division Commander of the army’s 6th Infantry Division in Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao prior to his assignment here.

In his parting message, Añonuevo commended all the officers, enlisted personnel and civilian employees of the 4ID and other operationally controlled and support units for their services during his leadership as a division commander.

Bongasia did not disclose the possible next assignment of Añonuevo as reassignments of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) major commands in Mindanao took effect last week.

Maj. Gen. Ricardo Rainer Cruz, the commander of the army’s 1st Infantry Division based in Zamboanga was promoted as the new commanding general of the army’s Eastern Mindanao Command based in Davao two days ago.

CSC conducts gender sensitivity training

By Marie-Zil G. Malinao


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 19 (PIA) -- The Civil Service Commission (CSC) ran a one-day gender sensitivity seminar here in Pearlmont Inn Cagayan de Oro City, Thursday.

The orientation covered basic concepts of sex and gender and practical exercises such as the “Sapot ng Gagamba” (spider’s web - identifying gender related issues and problems), “Pitik Palak” (click and clap- to determine participants concept about men and women), and the “Masali” (acronym for magulang, salinlahi, and lipunan- parents, new generation, and society).

Participants likewise viewed a documentary on “Women in our lives,” which showed various gender biases.

CSC region 10 director, Atty. Lourdes Clavite-Vidal says this activity aims to remove actual and potential gender biases by focusing on the principle that development is for all.

“Everyone in society, female or male, has the right to equal opportunities to achieve a full and satisfying life,” she said.

According to CSC, more than 30 participants attended the training, coming from various government offices within the region. (MGM/JCV-PIA)

CDO mayor orders release of mid-year bonuses

By (PNA)

FFC/CD/PJN


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 18 (PNA) -- City Mayor Vicente Emano of Cagayan de Oro City on Thursday ordered the release of mid-year bonuses including cash gifts starting end of April 2013 to the more than 3,000 city hall workers here.

Emano said he issued the order to allow parents to provide for the school needs of their children just in time for the opening of classes in June.

He said that the mid-year bonuses and cash gifts would be of great help in buying basic school needs, uniforms, shoes, and payment of tuition.

“I just hope that the parents would not squander the least amount at this time of hardship,” Emano added.

He said all city hall employees, whether permanent or casuals, are entitled to the mid-year bonuses and cash gifts.

Aboitiz cuts power rates due to drop in world price

By (PNA)

HBC/CD/NELSON V. CONSTANTINO/SSC


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 17 (PNA) -- Therma Marine, Inc. (TMI) lowered the rates of its power-barges operating in Mindanao due to a drop in world oil prices.

A subsidiary of AboitizPower, Therma Marine, in a statement Wednesday, said its power rates as of March stood at P7.13 per kilowatt-hour based on a 100-percent utilization.

This was on the back of an average fuel purchase of P29.13 per liter on the same month.

The corresponding impact on rates in the region will depend on the volume of power contracted by electric utilities from Therma Marine.

Therma Marine's combined 200-megawatt production is contracted to 23 electric cooperatives and distribution utilities in Mindanao.

The Therma Marine's highest rate was in May 2012, when its power cost hit P8.49 per kilowatt-hour because fuel cost P33.69 per liter.

Fuel comprises some 90 percent of Therma Marine's cost.

For the breakdown of the March rates, fuel cost amounted to P6.25 per kilowatt-hour.

Around P0.88 per kilowatt-hour remained for Therma Marine for the salaries of its employees, capital recovery, maintenance and operational expenses.

"As 90-percent of Therma Marine's power rate is on fuel, the movement of fuel prices in the world market has a significant effect on our power rates to our customers," Therma Marine chief operating officer Jovy P. Batiquin said.

"The fuel cost, however, is a pass through rate and this is regulated by the Energy Regulatory Commission," he added.

Therma Marine owns and operates two 100-megawatt barges moored in Maco, Compostela Valley and in Nasipit, Agusan del Norte.

Therma Marine’s power barges serve as peaking and ancillary services, thus deployed during times of high demand or for back up generation, respectively.

Power coops ordered to ensure power supply during polls

By (PNA)

HBC/CD/NELSON V. CONSTANTINO/SSC


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 16 (PNA) -- The National Electrification Administration Tuesday directed all electric cooperatives in Mindanao to coordinate with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines to ensure adequate power during the midterm elections.

In its memorandum, the NEA also directed all power cooperatives to monitor the demand of their customers and provide NGCP status updates regarding the power situation of their respective areas for next month’s elections.

In the same memorandum, NEA directed all power cooperatives to maintain back-up generator sets in poll centres on election day in order to augment the supply from the grid and for emergency use.

NEA also urged the power coops to come up with an incentive program for consumers who would be cut off from the grid to secure supply for the elections, organize a quick-response team for any line or equipment breakdown, and assign a roving crew to conduct line patrolling and surveillance during election day.

NGCP, which managed the country’s electricity traffic, earlier assured consumers of uninterrupted transmission of adequate electricity a week before, on election day, and a week after election day.

However, NGCP corporate communications officer lawyer Cynthia P. Alabanza said NGCP cannot guarantee that there would be enough electricity from the power generation and distribution sectors for the week prior to, on, and days after the May 13 election.

Alabanza suggested that to augment supply from the grid as well as for emergency use, cooperatives should maintain a back-up generator in poll centres on election day, the NEA memo said.

They should also identify customers in their franchise areas that have standby generators that may be called upon if needed.

NGCP said that despite their assurances of adequate transmission of power, without the cooperation of the other members of the “Energy Family”, its preparation would be useless.

Labor group asks for P88 daily wage hike in Region 10

By (PNA)

LAP/CD/BEN BALCE/SSC


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 15 (PNA) –- The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) on Monday petitioned the Labor department and wage board in Northern Mindanao for a daily wage hike of P88 in the region.

TUCP Partylist Rep. Raymundo Mendoza, said that the daily wage increase asked by the labor sector was based on the actual studies that the current daily minimum wage of P286 is barely enough to sustain a living.

He said that the current P286 minimum wage is not a living wage as the worker’s quality of life substantially deteriorates.

TUCP executive director Eva Arcos said that statistically as of March 2013, the current daily minimum wage has a buying capacity of only P200.84.

She added that after deductions, a minimum wage earner's daily take home is only P178.97.

In a four-page petition, Mendoza and Arcos said the bases for the wage hike petition were P19.98 from the actual increase in prices between June 2011 and March 2013; P20.02 from projected seven-percent rise in community price increase; P48.00 from P2.00 per year share in Gross Domestic Regional Product and there were no increases in daily wage for many years now.






CDO sees educational materials as antidote for vandalism

By (PNA)

JBP/CD/PJN


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 14 (PNA) -- An inter-government agency task force planned to produce educational materials as one of the measures to address the issue of vandalism here, a city councilor said on Sunday.

City Councillor Ian Nacaya, head of the city’s committee on police, fire, and public safety, said that an educational campaign would certainly gain positive responses from the public.

Nacaya said that while there is an existing ordinance penalizing those caught in the act of vandalizing public and private properties, a holistic approach should be adopted to solve vandalism here.

"The production of educational materials for widest dissemination was an important step toward resolving the problem of vandalism here," Nacaya said.

He said that the anti-vandalism task recently activated would take care of making an outline of possible approaches in line with its plan to spearhead an educational campaign on vandalism as a social issue.

The task force would be headed by the city’s police office, with the regional health office, education department, the Philippine Mental Health Association, academe, Psychological Association of the Philippines, city health office, and city social welfare office as members, Nacaya said.







Distribution utilities contract 50% of Aboitiz’ coal plant

By Nelson V. Constantino


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 12 (PNA) -- SCRAMBLING to mitigate the worsening power crisis in Mindanao and prevent their customers from groping in darkness, at least 15 distribution utilities and cooperatives all over the island have signed contract with AboitizPower’s upcoming coal-fired power plant.

These 15 power DUs and coops have contracted 180 megawatts or more than 50 percent of the total capacity of Therma South, Inc.’s (TSI) 300 MW coal-fired power plant now being constructed in Toril, Davao City.

TSI’s coal plant will go online in mid-2015.

“These contracts have been submitted to the Energy Regulatory Commission for review. And we are awaiting the ERC’s decision,” an AboitizPower official said.

Among the DUs that contracted power from TSI’s coal plant are AboitizPower subsidiaries Davao Light and Power Co., and Cotabato Light and Power Co., electric cooperatives Surigao del Sur, Electric Cooperative II, Misamis Occidental 1 Electric Cooperative, Cotabato Electric Cooperative and Sultan Kudarat Electric Cooperative, the PNA learned.

“We are greatly honored by this trust of our customers and we will continue to work hard to build a world-class power plant that the people of Mindanao will be proud of,” said Benjamin A. Cariaso Jr., TSI president and chief operating officer.

According to Cariaso, the coal plant is part of AboitizPower’s P35 billion investment in additional capacity to solve the Mindanao power crisis.

Bobby Orig, AboitizPower first vice president for Mindanao Affairs, said on Wednesday that without new power plants, major urban centers in the southern Philippines will plunge into darkness by 2014.

Orig said the Mindanao power deficiency is projected to reach 484 MW, which is enough to power five major cities.

“The power situation in Mindanao is very bad. But it will worsen next year as our power deficiency is expected to reach 484 megawatts. That deficiency is enough to power five major cities in Mindanao,” he said.

Without specifically identifying these cities as the ones that will suffer in 2014, Orig said the 484 MW power deficiency in 2014 is like taking power out of such cities as Davao, General Santos, Butuan and Zamboanga — practically all corners of the southern Philippines. Except Cagayan de Oro, all other cities in Mindanao are currently suffering rotational brownouts. (PNA) >br>CTB/CD/NVC/abb






2 killed, 3 wounded in police-NPA clash in Bukidnon

By Ben Balce


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 11 (PNA) -– Two communist rebels of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed while three police officers wounded in a clash Wednesday afternoon in the hinterlands of Talakag, Bukidnon.

Police Senior Supt. Orlando Biñas, director of the Bukidnon provincial police command, said on Thursday that the remains of the unidentified slain rebels were recovered at the encounter site in Barangay Saguiaran in Talakag, Bukidnon as police continue to comb the area Thursday morning.

Biñas identified the wounded policemen as Senior Insp. Alwin Baclao, PO1 John Bodiongan and PO1 Marlon Mendoza, who were all brought for treatment in a hospital in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

He said that the encounter took place when a platoon of police mobile group encountered the NPA rebels in Barangay Saguiaran, 18 kilometers from the town of Talakag Wednesday afternoon.

The police mobile group, together with 20 policemen from the Talakag police station, went to the area to verify reports of sightings of NPA rebels in the mountain ranges of Mt. Kalatungan and Kitanglad near Barangay Saguiran Wednesday morning, Biñas said.

Biñas said the rebels sensed the arrival of policemen resulting in a 30-minute gun battle.

“The police were at an advantage since they were positioned in a higher ground,” Biñas said.

Also recovered were an M16 rifle, KG-9 automatic weapon, a fragmentation grenade, and subversive documents. (PNA) LAM/CD/BB/utb






CDO distributes over 5,000 PhilHealth cards

By (PNA)

FFC/CD


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 10 (PNA) -- The city government has distributed more than 5,000 PhilHealth cards to residents during a weekly “People to People Program” here Monday.

City Mayor Vicente Emano led the distribution of PhilHealth cards in Barangays Bugo and Carmen, two most populated barangays in the city.

The "People to People Program" was a weekly program of the city government aimed at delivering basic services to rural and urban barangays in Cagayan de Oro City.

Some of these services include mass wedding, processing of birth registration of children, medical and dental services, legal services, supplemental feeding, and other day-to-day services at the City Hall.

Aside from the distribution of PhilHealth cards Monday, the city health department also distributed medicines to 5,800 patients, conducted dental services to 695 patients and circumcision of 496 boys.

Emano said that the city government implemented the weekly “People to People Program” since he was elected mayor for the first time in 1998.






CDO joins nation in commemorating ‘Araw ng Kagitingan’

By (PNA)

hbc/CD/utb


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 9 (PNA) – City Mayor Vicente Emano urged the people in Cagayan de Oro City to remember the sacrifices of soldiers who offered their lives during the WWII.

Emano led city employees, representatives of regional, and national government offices in celebrating the “Araw ng Kagitingan” to commemorate the 71st anniversary of the April 9, 1942 “Death March” in Bataan.

In his short message, Emano recalled the pains, the struggles, and the sacrifices of Filipino soldiers who willingly offered their lives “in the name of freedom and democracy” during the WWII.

The “Death March” on April 9, 1942 was one of the most telling memories of war that left an indelible imprint of courage in the face of death in the hearts and minds of the Filipinos today, Emano said.

He said the “Araw ng Kagitingan” might be lacking in context to soften the pain of those who died for us but it was a fitting tribute of our sincere acknowledgement of reverence to those who perished in order for us to survive.

The army’s Fourth Infantry Division, the Department of National Defense, and the Philippines Veterans Association also joined the commemoration of the “Araw ng Kagitingan” here on Tuesday.






CDO risk reduction council adopts five-year action plan

By (PNA)

PDS/CD/utb


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 8 (PNA) – The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) on Monday adopted a detailed five-year action plan to respond to disasters and calamities from 2013 to 2017.

City Mayor Vicente Emano, overall chairman of the CDRRMC, said the five-year plan will strengthen the capability of the CDRRMC to respond to disasters and calamities where every member-agency know their respective role.

As a start, the CDRRMC will initiate efforts to institutionalize the policies on Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction in line with the policies of the city and the barangays this year, Emano said.

He said the city government will provide funding for various programs involving climate change adaptation and risk reduction when necessary.

Emano said the relocation of residents living in high risk areas was part of the CDRRMC’s five-year plan which the city government is now implementing.

Emano said the adoption of the five-year risk reduction plan signified the city's capability to effectively respond to all kinds of calamities and disasters, Emano added.(PNA)






No poll-related violence in Northern Mindanao – PNP

By Gerry Lee Gorit


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – No election-related incident has been reported in Northern Mindanao, a police official said.

At the weekly news conference at the BusinessWeek Mindanao Media Center on Friday, Superintendent Ronnie Francis Cariaga, public information office chief of Police Regional Office-10, said peace prevails in the region despite the inclusion of three provinces as “areas of concern” in the elections and the proliferation of loose firearms.

Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon were tagged as election hotspots. An area is considered an election hotspot due to the presence of private armies, proliferation of loose firearms, intense political rivalry and the prevalence of crime and violence.

Cariaga said police confiscated 142 loose firearms since the start of the election gun ban on Jan. 13 until March 2. The firearms were seized in Bukidnon, 8; Lanao del Norte, 68; Misamis Occidental, 12; Misamis Oriental, 30; Iligan, 6; and Cagayan de Oro, 18.

Cariaga said crimes in the region were also lower from January to March at 598 compared to 650 during the same period last year.

Gov't. forfeits Bigcas vehicles

By (PNA)

FPV/CD/NELSON V. CONSTANTINO/ABB


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 6 (PNA) -- Twenty-nine imported vehicles seized by the Bureau of Customs from businessman Allan Bigcas in Bukidnon two years ago have been forfeited in favor of the government.

BOC-10 deputy collector Marvin Mison on Friday said that district collector Lourdes Mangaoang received the order to seize Bigcas vehicles from Commissioner Ruffy Biazon.

Mison, however, said that the bureau cannot as yet auction the vehicles because Bigcas still has the right to file for reconsideration of the decision.

The 29 vehicles, mostly motorbikes, were valued at US$ 396,667 (P 16, 263, 347 at P 41.00 to a U.S. dollar) with an estimated duties, taxes and other charges for import totalling P17,387,410.

The vehicles were: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Corvette, Dodge Charger, Toyota Seqouia Model 2002, Ranger RZR Utility Terrain Vehicle, Polaris Magnum 325 ATV 324cc, Yamaha Ultramatic 4x4, Kawasaki Ninja 2x14, Suzuki Model R/GSX 1000, Harley Davidson Model Big Dog,

Honda CBR 600RR Model 2006, Suzuki GSX/R, Suzuki GSX 1300R, Honda CBR 600RR Model 2008, Kawasaki Model 2003, Honda Model 2005, Honda Stunt Bike, Yamaha Model 2007, Kawasaki KMX, two 2005 Honda CRF 150Fs, 2003 Suzuki GSX R1000, Yamaha YZ450, Yamaha YZF285, Suzuki RGSX, MOTO Elf, Suzuki and Martin Brother’s Chopper.

The highest valued vehicle was the Kawasaki KMX at US$ 60,000 ( P 2.460 million) and the lowest are the two 2005 Honda CRF 150Fs at US$ 2,999 (P 122,959.00) each.

Bigcas is now running for the gubernatorial seat of the province of Bukidnon in the May elections.

PAL ordered to give preferential accommodation to ‘must-ride status’ officials

By (PNA)

HBC/CD/NELSON V.CONSTANTINO/UTB


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 5, (PNA) -– The Commission on Election has ordered the country’s flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) to give preferential accommodation to government officials with "must-ride status" for the May 13 national and local elections.

These include officials, employees and deputies of the Comelec travelling on official business.

Comelec Resolution No. 9598 promulgated on Dec. 18, 2012, also stipulates that PAL should direct its officials and employees to affect the immediate shipment, delivery and transmittal of Comelec cargo and other election matters.







Loan Documentation Officer – RCBC Savings Bank Inc Job – Northern Mindanao – Cagayan De Oro City

By jobsonline.ph


Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental – Loan Documentation Officer – RCBC Savings Bank Inc Job – Northern Mindanao – Cagayan De Oro City Loan Documentation Officer RCBC Savings Bank Inc Northern Mindanao – Cagayan De Oro City Responsibilities: Performs pre-booking review of loan documents to ensure completeness as per Bank’s Checklist and deviations/exceptions with proper approval per matrix of authority. Prepares monitoring and status reports of loan documentary deficiencies bank wide including PLC’s. Attains service level and turn – Permanent – Full-time






Livelihood project for CDO city’s inmates

By (PNA)

PDS/CD/ssc

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 3 (PNA)–- City Mayor Vicente Emano on Wednesday ordered the operation of livelihood project for the more than 2,000 inmates at the rehabilitation center in Barangay Lumbia here.

Emano signed Executive Order No. 123-2012 which would establish coffin-making as livelihood project for inmates at the city’s Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Barangay Lumbia.

Emano issued the order citing the need for the city to assist the national government in its intention to provide rehabilitation to offenders and to prepare them to re-integrate into the society with renewed value for work.

In line with Emano’s order, City Councilor Adrian Barba asked the City Engineer’s Office to conduct an on-site inspection at the BJMP as part of the preparation for the submission of a program of works for the construction of the livelihood center there.

Councilor Barba said the city would purchase the needed materials which would be turned over to the BJMP so the inmate could use them in coffin-making.

Barba said the city government would purchase the coffins so that the inmates could earn while undergoing rehabilitation at the BJMP.

These coffins would likewise be given to indigent families as a means of burial assistance from the city government, he said

Bidding of P300 M Spanish bridge above board -- DPWH

By (PNA)

hbc/CD/BEN BALCE/utb


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 2 (PNA) – Requisites for the bidding of the P191 million Spanish bridged donated to the city government of Cagayan de Oro City was properly observed, an official of the Departhment of Public Works and Highways here said Tuesday.

Engr. Boni Lora, staff engineer of the regional office of the DPWH here, said that the city government has no involvement in the implementation of the project during the bidding and awarding process of the project.

“The construction of the donated Spanish bridge was purely the affair of the DPWH regional office,” Lora said.

He said nine qualified contractors participated in the bidding but three were found ineligible after highway officials reviewed their bids.

Lora, who served as the vice chair of the bidding and awards committee, said that the total amount of the approved budget for the construction of 434-meter long bridge was only P 223 million.

He said the national government already released an initial P 44 million to pay for road right of way and renumerate occupants of houses affected by the construction of the bridge.

He said the UKC Builders, inc. won the bid after submitting the lowest bid of P179 million who do all the construction works under supervision of the DPWH.

City Mayor Vicente Emano said that the Spanish government donated the bridge (most of them prefab) when he was first elected city mayor in 1998.

He said the delay of the construction of the bridge was due to politics since some politicians who hold influence in the national government vehemently opposed the construction of the bridge under his watch.

“I am thankful that President Aquino finally gave the go signal for the construction of the Spanish bridge here,” Emano said.

He said the Spanish bridge would cross from the J.R. Borja St. in the city’s downtown area toward Tambo in the other side of the Cagayan de Oro River Carmen.

Lora said that materials for the construction of the bridge could be provided by the Spanish government in the form of grant.


Cagayan de Oro Archived News

The older news reports are kept here.

Retrieved from "http://www.zamboanga.com/z/index.php?title=Cagayan_de_Oro_City_News&oldid=628078"
Personal tools
Namespaces

Variants
Actions
Navigation
Philippine Provinces
Independent Cities
Toolbox