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General Santos City, Philippines - Archived News

Dietary supplement is a product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs.

Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded. That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of DSHEA and FDA regulations.

Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion.

But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened .

Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions.

  • Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE?
  • Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace?

WHY??

There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance:
  1. The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice.
  2. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.

Mindanao students dominate 'Pasiklaban sa Paaralan'

By. zamboangatoday.ph


After an intensee two-hour final competition and a yearlong search for the best, Diwa Learning Systems concludes this year's Pasiklaban sa Paaralan competition. Aeron Jan Sanidad, grade five student from The Quantum Academy in General Santos City and James Polistico, a third year high school student from Holy Cross of Bunawan, Davao City emerged as this year's champions in the elementary and high school category, respectively. Sixteen students vied for the top plum in the national finals, which was held at the Best Western F1 Hotel in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig on March 17, 2012 with TV personality Kuya Kim Atienza as quizmaster.

Other winners in the elementary category were Mark Edward Gonzales from St. Paul College of Makati in Makati City and Basil Angelo Viloria from Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Montessori in Baguio City. It was a close fight for the three contenders. Sanidad edged over Gonzales in the difficult category by just one question. Viloria got a perfect score in the average round.

In the high school category, Oliver Lance Ku from Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu was first runner-up and Justin Bryce Torres from Zamboanga Chong Hua High School, Zamboanga City was second.

The champions, Aeron Jan Sanidad and James Polistico, brought home a 7-inch Android Tablet from official technology partner Ng Khai Development Corporation; a trophy and a certificate from Diwa Learning Systems, Inc. Their coaches, Ebrahim Alpe Simpal and Emelie Sarte, received a cellphone, a trophy and a certificate from Diwa Learning Systems, Inc. The schools, The Quantum Academy and Holy Cross of Bunawan, received an Acer Veriton Z431G All-in-One Desktop Computer from Official Technology Partner Acer Philippines.

The first runners-up, Mark Edward Gonzales and Oliver Lance Ku, together with their coaches, Rollie Pereña and Cecilie Villacrusis, received a 500GB External Hard Disk Drive from event donor Questech Co. Inc., a trophy and a certificate from Diwa Learning Systems, Inc. Second runners-up, Basil Angelo Viloria and Justin Bryce Torres, and their coaches, Mary Ann Tibayan and Ms. Angeline Viejon, received a cellphone from event donor Questech Co. Inc., a trophy and a certificate from Diwa Learning Systems, Inc.

The Pasiklaban sa Paaralan, which was in 60 locations around the country, was participated in by 700 schools nationwide with over 1,000 grade school and high school students. Winners were divided into clusters for the semifinals where the eight national finalists emerged and represented their clusters in the National Finals.

The eight finalists for the grade school category were—Margareth Nicole Dato, Marian School of Gerona, Tarlac; Basil Angelo Viloria, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Montessori, Baguio City; Jude Benedick Acedera, Holy Infant Academy, Oriental Mindoro; Duane Christian Rivera, Naga Parochial School, Naga City; Seanne Angelique Dagsa, St. Therese Educational Foundation of Tacloban, Inc., Tacloban City; Aeron Jan Sanidad, The Quantum Academy, General Santos City; Maria Victoria Te, Dipolog Community High School, Dipolog City; Mark Edward Gonzales, St. Paul College of Makati, Makati City.

The finalists for the high school category were Yoana Alexis Juan, Ecumenical Christian College, Tarlac City; Matthew Villanueva, La Salette of San Mateo, Isabela; Nards John Isip, Good Shepherd Academy; Oriental Mindoro; Oliver Lance Ku, Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu, Cebu City; James Polistico, Holy Cross of Bunawan, Davao City; Justine Bryce Torres, Zamboanga Chong Hua High School, Zamboanga City; Julian Victor Dupaya, Good Shepherd Christian School, Mandaluyong City.

Pasiklaban sa Paaralan serves as an avenue for intellectual competition among the students and shows how information and communications technology (ICT) can help in academic instruction. It enhances the classroom experience of students and features questions related to Science, Math, Languages, Literature and General Information. It travels around the country on board a custom-built van equipped with 10 laptops used as a playing console, a server that is the brain of the competition, a mobile sound system and LCD projectors.





Region 12 LGUs urged to take disaster risk reduction measures

By. (PNA)

DCT/FFC/AVE


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, March 21 (PNA) — Local government units (LGUs) in Region 12 or the Soccsksargen Region must give serious consideration to disaster mitigation and preparedness measures more than ever to avoid tragedies.

This was the gist of the recent briefing here on calamity response and geo-hazard maps for LGUs conducted by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Region 12.

Buagas Sulaik, DILG Region 12 director, urged the local chief executives (LCEs) to develop their respective calamity response protocols for the safety of their constituents.

Specifically, he noted that the protocols should be harmonized with various sectors involved in disaster risk reduction and management.

Sulaik said that with what happened to the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan last December, there should have lessons learned.

He was referring to tropical storm Sendong (international name: Washi), which wrought havoc that killed at least 1,200 people after devastating flash floods swept Northern Mindanao.

Sulaik said that Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo has instructed the regional offices to issue weather advisories and calamity warnings to local chief executives.

“Weather advisories and calamity warnings from the DILG should not be ignored by LCEs even when sent through text message during the middle of the night or the wee hours of the morning,” he said.

In line with Republic Act 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, Mr. Sulaik said that DILG-12 will also conduct a region-wide training in addressing calamity warnings and understanding area hazards and response for barangays.

The MGB-12 has been distributing geo-hazard maps it started printing last January.

Constancio Paye Jr., MGB-12 director, said they target to distribute the maps to all the 1,194 barangays in the region.

Paye said that villages considered high-risk to flooding and landslide will be the priority in the distribution list.

"These maps are vital for each barangay in identifying flood and landslide prone areas, in the preparation of the disaster risk and reduction plans, and in identifying safe locations for evacuation,” he said. (PNA) LAP/FFC/AVE/RSS

Power firm to start pre-feasibility study for 5-MW hydro plant in Lake Sebu

By. (PNA)

DCT/FFC/AVE


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, March 20 (PNA) -– Renewable energy firm Euro Hydro Power (Asia) Holdings Inc. is set to launch a pre-feasibility study for its planned 5-megawatt (MW) mini-hydro power plan in Lake Sebu town in South Cotabato.

Engr. Santiago Tudio, general manager of South Cotabato I Electric Cooperative (Socoteco I), said the company has already sought clearance from the Lake Sebu municipal government to pursue with the project’s pre-feasibility study, which will mainly look into its environmental impact and water utilization.

Socoteco I earlier forged a partnership with the power producer for the construction of a 5 MW hydropower plant within the famed seven waterfalls of Lake Sebu.

“The pre-feasibility study is scheduled to begin in a few weeks and we’re looking forward to it since it would determine the viability and the future of this project,” Tudio said in a radio interview.

Tudio said the pre-feasibility study, which was initially scheduled last year, was delayed after Euro Hydro found out earlier that the Department of Energy (DoE) had issued a service contract over the proposed project area to another company.

He said the DoE earlier awarded the contract to Renouvel Development Corporation, which is reportedly owned by former National Power Corp. executives, but the latter supposedly failed to pursue the project due to funding problems.

Renouvel’s contract, which was issued for its proposed 21-MW Lanon Hydroelectric Power Project, was reportedly cancelled recently by the DoE, he said.

Citing initial details of the Lake Sebu hydropower project’s pre-feasibility study, Tudio said Euro Hydro will initially explore the viability of utilizing the third of the town’s seven waterfalls as its main site.

He said the company is looking at constructing a small impounding structure at waterfall no. 3 to allow it to generate 5-MW of power.

“We will later present the results of the pre-feasibility study to the municipal government, provincial government of South Cotabato, DoE and other concerned agencies for the issuance of further clearances related with the project’s implementation,” he said.

Should the project eventually becomes operational, Tudio said the 5-MW power supply that it would generate will be enough to cover for the requirements of the entire Lake Sebu and nearby Surallah town.

“If we will mix it with the other power supplies we purchase from other providers, it will reduce the overall costs of power that we supply to our consumers in the entire Socoteco I service area,” he said.

Socoteco I covers Lutayan town in Sultan Kudarat, the city of Koronadal and the municipalities of Tampakan, Tantangan, Banga, Norala, Surallah, T’boli, Sto. Nino and Lake Sebu in South Cotabato.

Euro Hydro is currently pursuing seven hydro power plant projects in Mindanao that have potential capacities of one megawatt (MW) each.

The company said it has already complied with the requirements for the pre-development stages and have paid the prescribed application and processing fees for their proposed power projects.

Aside from South Cotabato, Euro Hydro is also setting up hydro power plants in Iligan City and Kapai in Lanao del Norte, Calamba in Misamis Occidental, New Bataan in Compostela Valley and in Alamada, North Cotabato.

The company has yet to disclose its planned investments for the Lake Sebu project but Tudio earlier said the development costs for a hydropower plant in the area may reach P1 billion per MW or a total of P5 billion for a 5-MW facility.

(Feature) South Central Mindanao's Save the Children to help more indigenous communities

By. (PNA)

DCT/LOR/AVE/HST and KZT


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, March 19 (PNA) -– Upbeat with the successful implementation of its three-year hunger mitigation program in Lake Sebu town in South Cotabato, an international child welfare group is now pushing for its replication in other impoverished communities in the area.

Fanny Divino, program manager for South Central Mindanao of Save the Children, said they are working for the implementation of their flagship “Making Food Go Further” project in several villages in T’boli town.

She said they are eyeing the tribal residents of T’boli, especially those who have experienced severe hunger, as initial program beneficiaries.

The group’s project in Lake Sebu town is about to end on March 31 after three consecutive years of implementation.

The project, which was supported by international food firm Kraft Foods Inc., mainly aimed to mitigate hunger through various strategies that include direct food provision, livelihood assistance, health and nutrition promotion and increasing local folks’ readiness to address child hunger and malnutrition.

For three years, Save the Children conducted supplemental feeding activities that benefited 9,378 school children of 10 public schools in Lake Sebu.

The project helped improve the capability of 662 mothers and caregivers and educated 10,665 school children on proper health, nutrition, hygiene and sanitation.

Divino said they are planning to forge partnerships with local governments in the area for the project’s sustenance and replication.

“The project does not require heavy funding to become successful. all it needs is the proper monitoring and strong support from various sectors, especially the local governments,” she said.

Dr. Rogelio Aturdido, South Cotabato health officer, expressed support for the project’s replication saying it would greatly benefit the poor localities in the province.

“We in the provincial government will continue to work hand in hand with Save the Children for our children’s welfare and we hope that this project will be replicated in several other communities in the province,” he said.

GenSan judge hurt in accident

By. (PNA)

FFC/AVE


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, March 15 (PNA) – A local trial court judge was injured after he was hit by a wayward motorcycle in front of Rep. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao’s mansion here Wednesday night.

In a report, Senior Supt. Cedric Train, city police director, identified the victim as Judge Antonio Lubao, 67, who is currently the presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 22 here.

He said Lubao just emerged from Pacquiao’s mansion along the NLSA Road in Barangay Lagao at around 8:30 p.m. when he was struck by the motorcycle driven by Oliver Busano, a resident of Purok 17 of the same village.

Lubao, who was then attending a Bible study at the Pacquiao mansion, was just checking his vehicle that was parked by the roadside when the incident happened, he said.

Train said the victim reportedly sustained head injuries and is recuperating at a hospital here.

Citing a report from the Lagao police station, the official said the suspect appeared intoxicated and did not have a driver’s license.

The suspect is currently detained at the Lagao police station’s lock-up pending the filing of appropriate charges against him.

SHEEP-CLP intensifies technology training for senior citizens in Gensan

By. (PGFruylan/PIA-Gensan with reports from LGU-Gensan)


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, March 14 (PIA) -- The City Government’s SHEEP-Computer Literacy Program (SHEEP-CLP) intensified its technology training for senior citizens here by making it a whole year continuous activity.

SHEEP-CLP head, Percival Pasuelo said the free trainings will be offered until December this year after Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio personally witnessed the successful outcome of the hands-on training on “Basic Computer Operation and Facebook” last December 22, 2011.

Since then, Pasuelo said, they received more request for trainings from the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) as more lolo and lola wanted to be called “senior netizens” and undergo the same “unique rest and recreation experience through the power of technology.”

According to OSCA Chairman, Jacinto Gutang the city has a population of at least thirty thousand senior citizens, but only more than eight thousand are active due to illnesses and other old age problems.

He said they are very grateful to the City Mayor for conducting the said technology training to make a difference in the lives of the senior citizens who are now in what he described as the “pre departure area” .

Gutang explained that majority of senior citizens who learned how to use facebook were very happy for keeping in touch with the world and being involved in an experience they have never enjoyed when they were young.

“We are glad that we have an alternative way to spend our free time to keep our minds occupied and productive,” he said.

Meanwhile, Pasuelo said that the SHEEP-CLP is targeting at least 100 trainee-participants to complete the training course this coming May 2012. They are also planning to introduce web blogging for participants who are willing to undergo more level-up trainings.

PCSO millionaires' club reaches 1700 - ABS CBN News

By. ABS CBN News


MANILA, Philippines - An official of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) disclosed yesterday that there are now 1,700 members of the so-called “Instant Millionaires Club” composed of winners of online lottery draws with prizes ranging from P3 million to P741 million since 1995. Jose Ferdinand Rojas II, PCSO general manager, said that since the 6/42 Mega Lotto and 6/49 Super Lotto games were launched in 1995, some 1,700 lucky bettors have won the jackpot. “Most of the winners are ordinary folks who religiously maintained certain combinations,” he said. A balikbayan from New York had won the biggest lotto jackpot worth more than P741 million in the 6/55 Grand Lotto in October 2010. The winner was on vacation in Subic where he bought the winning ticket. Most of the jackpot winners, however, have told stories of rags to riches when they claimed their prizes at the PCSO central office at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.A 60-year-old carpenter from Las Piñas City won P341 million for the Grand Lotto draw last year while a 49-year-old government employee from General Santos City won P106 million for the Super Lotto draw. Rojas said most of the winners maintained certain number combinations that represent important dates and events in their lives. He said the PCSO generates funds for its medical assistance through the lotto draws and other games. Rojas said out of ticket sales, the PCSO allocates 55 percent to prizes, 30 percent to charity through medical assistance, and 15 percent to the agency’s operating fund. He said the PCSO charter-mandated core services are direct outpatient care through the charity clinic department and medical outreach missions in communities; the granting of individual medical assistance; and the granting of institutional assistance through the endowment fund for hospitals, clinics, homes for the elderly and street children, and the like. Rojas said that PCSO also grants assistance to victims of calamities and national emergencies, to regular beneficiary organizations, ambulance units to qualified institutions and LGUs, and donation of medicine and medical equipment. Under the Individual Medical Assistance Program (IMAP), the PCSO accepts requests for hospitalization, dialysis, medicine (except maintenance and for cosmetic purposes), chemotherapy drugs, laboratory and diagnostic procedures, and equipment such as wheelchair, hearing aid, and implants or prostheses. Among the documentary requirements are a request letter, medical abstract, medicine prescription, certificate of indigence, price quotations for medicine, hospital billing statements, and others as needed. Meanwhile, a 33-year-old woman collapsed after a lotto outlet teller in Quezon City confirmed that her ticket won the P6,989.457.67 jackpot prize for the 6/42 Regular Lotto draw last March 8, 2012. Rojas said the lucky winner, however, recovered immediately after she verified her winning ticket at a lotto outlet at a mall at the corner of EDSA and North Ave. Rojas said the woman and her live-in partner claimed the jackpot at the PCSO central office at the PICC.A security guard assisted the woman and after she regained consciousness the teller told her to sign the ticket for security reasons. The winner and her partner, who have one child, plan to get married and buy a house and lot.

SM foundation turns over classroom building in Gen San

By. CTApelacio/PIA General Santos City)


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, March 12 (PIA)--A private corporation recently donated classroom buildings here in support of the Adopt-A-School Program of the Department of Education (DepEd).

SM Prime Holdings, through SM Foundation has turned over a two-classroom building to General Santos City Special Education Integrated School or SPED and another four-classroom building to Banisil National High School in Tambler here.

“The school buildings are equipped with complete toilet facilities, armchairs, blackboards, teacher’s desk sets, and ceiling fans,” Justin Mae Acharon, public relations officer, GenSan SM Shopping Center Management Corporation told PIA General Santos City.

She added that a number of textbooks and reading materials were also distributed to each of the school libraries.

To date, SM foundation has funded the construction of “42 school buildings nationwide since 2002,” she said.

Acharon said SM Foundation is also making a difference in the lives of Filipinos through its scholarship program, which helps the less privileged and less fortunate young individuals all over the country go to school.

The program has 900 college scholars enrolled in 73 colleges and universities nationwide.

Schools of choice now include General Santos City being the site of the biggest SM malls in Mindanao. SM GenSan is expected to open in June or July this year.

Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio noted the contribution of SM Foundation saying she was happy with the assistance as it helps boost public schools facility in the city.

Brownouts to become Gensan way of life unless…

By. Edwin G. Espejo


GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/10 March 2012) — Unless it will be able to secure long term power supply contract, residents of General Santos City and areas covered by its franchise will have to live with at least two hours of daily rotational brownouts which could go as high as eight hours a day, the South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative (Socoteco II) said. Socoteco II general manager Rodrigo Ocat said erratic supply from the National Power Corporation (NPC) is now being felt by its consumers following the power company’s decision to limit supply contracts with utility firms on an annual basis due to inadequate capacities from its remaining generating plants, most of them hydro-electric plants. Ocat said they have already resorted to buying power from diesel-fired power barges of Therma Marine Inc. to compensate for the reduced supply from NPC. Socoteco II has a base load capacity of at least 70 megawatts (MW) and a peaking requirement of up to 105 MW from over 120,000 consumer-households. Its power supply requirement is expected to further increase beginning next month when SM Properties opens its shopping mall here. The SM shopping center will reportedly use up at least 10 megawatts when it opens in April which will coincide with the shutting down of the 100-MW Pulangi hydroelectric plant for annual preventive maintenance. The 110-MW Mt Apo Geothermal Plant will also undergo preventive maintenance in June. Other power plants that have reportedly scheduled their own maintenance are one of the Agus Hydro power plants in September and one of the two 105MW power plants of STEAG in Misamis Oriental. NPC is said to have already advised Socoteco that it will be shedding off at least 15 megawatts of the utility firm’s requirement for the month. For March, Socoteco II will reportedly only get an average supply of 61 MW from NPC. This will mean at least six hours of daily rotational brownouts, according to Socoteco. It has also contracted at least 23 MW of supply from Therma Marine which is priced between P11 to P13 per kilowatt hour, depending on the cost of fuel, jacking the average cost of electricity of its consumes by at least P1.00 per kilowatt hour. Still, the combined power supply of NPC and Therma Marine for March (84MW) is not enough to meet the peaking demand of Socoteco II forcing the utility firm to resort to two-hour rotational brownouts. To cushion the impact, Socoteco II revamped its feeder assignments last month which enabled it to shorten the power interruptions. Power sales agreement As this developed, Ocat urged the public to support the approval of its power supply agreement with Sarangani Energy Corporation (SEC) which is now being heard by the Energy Regulatory Commission. The city government however filed an opposition and is asking the board of directors to rescind the contract citing, reportedly, “onerous provisions” in teh agreement. But Ocat said, under the circumstances and considering the power supply outlook of Mindanao, the power supply agreement between Socoteco II is the best it could procure even though it will mean slightly higher electricity bill for its consumers during the first two or three years of the supply contract. The PSA between Socoteco II and SEC provides for a supply and purchase agreement of 70 MW of base load capacity at a cost significantly lower than the current supply contract between the cooperative and Therma Marine. In the public hearings and consultations held in December and early this year, both Socoteco II and SEC said the benchmark of its supply is pegged at passed on price to consumers of P5.91 per kilowatt hour. Socoteco II’s average cost per kilowatt hour at the moment, without the brownouts, is P5.47, inclusive of generation, transmission, and distribution charges. SEC is constructing a two-phased 200-megawatt power plant in nearby Maasim, Sarangani. The Alcantara-controlled power firm said it will commence construction as soon as the ERC approves its PSA with Socoteco II. SEC will initially build a 100 MW plant and common structures for its second 100 MW power plant, which will start 12 months after it lays it foundations. If plans push through, SEC will be able to deliver electricity to Socoteco II at the start of 2015, at the latest. Businessman Manny Yaphockun, former president of the General Santos City Chamber of Commerce, said residents will have to make a choice between a slightly higher electricity costs than suffer prolonged brownouts. (Edwin Espejo/MindaNews contributor writes for the asiancorrespondent.com)






BIR-12 moves to prevent tax record ‘leakages’

By. Allen V. Estabillo


GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/09 March) – With the local business scene here and in nearby areas currently “picking up,” an official of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) directed their personnel in Region 12 to intensify their crackdown against possible “leakages” with the tax records of businesses in the area. Lucita Rodriguez, BIR assistant commissioner, said their assessment showed that the region’s revenues from the value added tax (VAT) collected by local businesses should have picked up these past months with the robust growth achieved by the area’s business sector. “I think it’s true that there were leakages. I noticed that businesses here are booming so we should have expected higher collections from VAT and business taxes,” she said in a press conference in Koronadal City. Rodriguez, who heads the BIR’s Taxpayer’s Assistance Service, visited the area last Wednesday to grace the regional kickoff of its tax campaign dubbed “I love the Philippines, I pay taxes.” The BIR Revenue Region No. 18 (BIR-18), which covers the entire Region 12 and Maguindanao province, earlier reported that its total collections tax collections in the area last year had reached P4.4 billion, surpassing its target by 6.1 percent or P254.09 million. Region 12 covers the provinces of South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato. The BIR regional office said 70 percent of its total collections in 2011 were generated from the withholding taxes of local employees while 21 percent came from the VAT. Owing to their assessment, Rodriguez said there is a need for their personnel to intensify their tax investigations on the tax records of businesses in the area, especially the high-profile personalities and professionals. She said they should conduct their tax mapping activities on a regular basis and at the same time set more information and education campaigns among local businessmen and professionals. “We also need to reach out with them because there were instances, especially among our professionals, that they were just not aware of their obligations or the taxes that they need to pay,” Rodriguez said. To help encourage businessmen and professionals to promptly and properly pay their tax obligations, she acknowledged that they should also expand the local implementation of its e-services, which involves electronic or online filing and payment of taxes. Lawyer Rozil Lozares, BIR-18 regional director, assured that they were exerting “all out” efforts to stop the tax record “leakages” and related violations by local businessmen and professionals. He said that as part of their campaign against tax evaders, the BIR-18 legal department has already filed 13 cases involving local businessmen. Lozares said they recently sought for the issuance of alias warrants of arrest against four suspected tax evaders in the area. “Some of the cases that we filed are undergoing litigation while some are under mediation,” he said. The official said they have been conducting tax investigations targeting high-profile personalities in the region “to send the right signals among our residents.” On March 1, BIR-18 officials filed a criminal case against Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel Pacquiao in connection with their ongoing investigation into the latter’s tax payments in 2010. Lozares said they filed the charges against Pacquiao before the prosecutor’s office in Koronadal City for violation of Section 266 of the National Internal Revenue Code after the latter allegedly failed to submit copies of his tax records and income-related documents that were summoned by the agency. But Michael Brenn Evangelio, chief of staff of the Sarangani congressional office, said Pacquiao is already attending to the matter and has initiated efforts to comply with the BIR’s summons. (Allen V. Estabillo/MindaNews)

South Cotabato solon to appeal Sandigan suspension

By. (PNA)

LAP/AVE


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, March 9 (PNA) – South Cotabato (1st District) Rep. Pedro Acharon Jr. plans to file an appeal with the Sandiganbayan over his 90-day preventive suspension in connection with a graft case that was filed while he was still the mayor here.

Acharon said his counsels are currently studying his options, among them the filing of a motion for reconsideration within 15 days, regarding the Sandiganbayan fifth division’s suspension order, which stemmed from his issuance of travel authority to the United States for two members of the city council in 2006 without proper approval from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

In its ruling issued last Tuesday, the anti-graft court granted the prosecution’s position that suspension is mandatory when a public official is charged for violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The ruling was penned by Sandiganbayan Associate Justice and 5th division chair Roland Jurado and concurred by Associate Justices Alexander Gesmundo and Alex Quiroz.

“The purpose of the suspension is to see to it that I would not hamper the ongoing processes (involving the case),” Acharon said in an interview with a local television station here.

Acharon was earlier charged of “unlawfully issuing travel clearances” to city councilors Jose Orlando Acharon and Minda Atendido on June 9-16, 2006 for their trip to Los Angeles, California.

The prosecution noted that Acharon’s action overrode the authority of then DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno after the latter disapproved travel requests by the two city council members.

Councilors Acharon and Atendido were part of the city’s delegation then for the annual Tambayayong Festival held in Los Angeles.

But the former mayor pointed out that the charges were not a “corruption case” since the two city councilors travelled and attended the events in the United States “using their own money.”

“The city government did not spend a single centavo for them and there were no government resources, properties or assets (involved in this case),” Acharon said.

He cited that he was not part of the city’s delegation, which was allotted by the local government some P2.5 million.

The Sandiganbayan, who had denied Acharon’s request for him to be exempted from suspension being now a member of the House of Representatives, directed Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. to implement the order.

But published reported quoted House Majority Leader and Mandaluyong City Rep. Neptali Gonzales II as saying that they could not implement the order as the Constitution bars the House of Representatives from suspending a member for alleged actions that happened not during their incumbency as lawmaker.

Governor Hataman wants more CCTVs near ARMM compound

By. MindaNews


General Santos City — Acting Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Mujiv Hataman is pushing for the installation of additional closed-circuit television or CCTV cameras in various strategic areas in Cotabato City in the wake of the recent series of bomb attacks in the area.

Hataman said he is presently coordinating with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other government security units in the area for the acquisition and installation of the additional CCTV cameras in areas that were hit by the previous bomb attacks, especially along the roads leading to the ARMM compound.

“The installation of the CCTVs will help our security and law enforcers in identifying the people or groups who might be behind these attacks,” he said in an interview over Bombo Radyo in Koronadal City on Tuesday.

In January, the Cotabato City government initially installed 12 CCTV cameras worth P2 million in various parts of the city to help deter the occurrence of crime incidents and terror attacks in the area.

The CCTV cameras were reportedly installed covertly by police personnel to ensure that they would not be detected by criminal and terror elements operating in the area.

Aside from the installation of the surveillance cameras, Hataman said he has asked the PNP’s Directorate for Integrated Police Operations (DIPO)-Western Mindanao and the PNP-ARMM to study the security arrangements in Cotabato City and come up with a coordinated comprehensive security plan.

He admitted that the ARMM leadership has been facing difficulty in terms of implementing security measures in Cotabato City since it is not under their jurisdiction.

“We have a very unique situation in Cotabato City because our ORC (Office of the Regional Council) is based there but it is under the AOR (area of responsibility) of Region 12 and not the ARMM,” the official said.

Last Saturday, two improvised bombs exploded outside ARMM’s ORC compound, injuring a local resident.

The first explosion occurred about 100 meters from the ARMM-ORC compound’s main gate while the second happened in front of the ARMM Regional Ports Management Authority office.

A third explosive fashioned from a live 81-millimeter mortar shell was also recovered by police and military personnel near the blast sites.

Col. Prudencio Asto, public affairs chief of the Army’s Sixth infantry Division, earlier said the recent attacks could have been staged by groups opposed to Hatman’s leadership.

He cited the previous recovery in the some of the blast sites of propaganda materials against Hataman that were supposedly issued by the Bangsamoro Independence Movement and the Bangsamoro Youth Movement.

Although the bomb explosions happened just outside the ARMM ORC Compound along Gov. Gutierrez Avenue, Hataman said these have not so far affected the regional government’s operations in the area.

“It has not affected our regular operations, especially the reforms that we’ve been implementing,” he said.

The official said he doesn’t believe the attacks were directed at him or any of their offices and employees “since they happen almost on a monthly basis so far and Cotabato City’s local politics is quite complicated at the moment.” (Allen V. Estabillo/MindaNews)

Tupi South Cotabato celebrates Women’s Month

By. (PGFruylan/PIA-Gensan with reports from LGU Tupi)


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, March 7 (PIA) -- Hundreds of women from the 15 barangays of Tupi, South Cotabato recently gathered for a morning parade around the town’s major streets to signal the start of the celebration of Women’s Month in the municipality.

Adopting the national theme: "Women Weathering Climate Change: Governance and Accountability, Everyone’s Responsibility," local women convened at the Tupi Sports and Cultural Center (TSCC) for the lined-up activities designed to empower their mental and physical capabilities.

According to a report from the local government’s information center one of the highlights of the whole day celebration was the musical and dance contests organized to showcase the talents of participating women.

Crafts and local products such as the creatively designed hand woven floor mats, homemade soaps and perfumes, canned and bottled products, assorted food and other products depicting the artistic and entrepreneurial side of Tupinian women were also put on display .

Meanwhile, Mayor Reynaldo S. Tamayo, Jr., called on women participants to unite and rally behind the development of Tupi.

"You can be partners in the development of Tupi by simply patronizing our local products, and in doing so we are indirectly benefitting from it…The effect of the increased economic activity in our municipality will benefit all of us," the information office quoted the mayor as saying.

Mindanao power outages seen to worsen as NPC sets repair works on Pulangi plants

By. (PNA)

FFC/AVE


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, March 6 (PNA) – The continuing daily rotating brownouts here and other areas in Mindanao are seen to worsen by next month reportedly due to another round of maintenance works set by the National Power Corporation (NPC) on the Pulangi hydro power plants in Bukidnon.

Engr. Santiago Tudio, general manager of the South Cotabato I Electric Cooperative (Socoteco I), said Tuesday they received a notice from the NPC that it would shut down the combined 150-megawatt (MW) Pulangi plants by April to pave the way for their scheduled preventive maintenance and river desilting operations.

He said they were still waiting for the final notice about the matter from the NPC and power transmission firm National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) but said they were informed in advance to allow them to prepare and properly inform their power consumers.

“The 150-MW supply cut will be pro-rated to all electric cooperatives in Mindanao so it means we’ll have extended rotating brownouts by then,” Tudio said.

Socoteco I has been implementing hour-long rotating brownouts within its service area, which covers Koronadal City and the municipalities of Tampakan, Banga, Tantangan, Norala, Surallah, Banga, Sto. Nino, T’boli and Lake Sebu in South Cotabato; and, Lutayan town in Sultan Kudarat.

This city, the entire Sarangani province and the municipalities of Tupi and Polomolok in South Cotabato is served by Socoteco II, which implemented periodic rotating brownouts lasting about an hour since January.

Tudio said that they implemented the rotating brownouts due to the power supply cuts imposed by the NPC and NGCP as a result of Mindanao’s worsening power supply deficit.

Based on the power situation outlook released by NGCP Tuesday morning, the island’s power deficit is presently at 154 MW based on the total system capacity of 1,099 MW and the peak power demand of 1,253 MW.

But Tudio said they received a separate notice from the NGCP and NPC that Mindanao’s power deficit for Tuesday has reached 240 MW and is expected to increase to 300 MW during the peak hours.

Due to the power deficit, he said the NPC was only able to supply 25 MW to their service area out of their contracted supply of 31 MW.

He said the situation was even worse in the Socoteco II area, which earlier lost 30 percent of its power requirements or around 30 MW.

“But we’re not much affected yet in terms of the rotating brownouts when compared to the almost half-day outages in other areas because of the supply augmentation from Therma Marine,” Tudio said.

He was referring to the separate contracts forged last year by both Socoteco I and II with the Aboitiz-owned Therma Marine Inc. (TMI) for a standby supply of 4 MW and 18 MW, respectively.

“But overall, our situation is very volatile because of the unstable condition of NPC’s hydro power plants so our group (Mindanao electric cooperatives) is continually working with the DOE (Department of Energy) to find other alternative power sources for us here,” he said.

In a meeting in Manila last Feb. 24 to 25, Tudio said Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras informed them that the government will immediately send to Mindanao the two power barges presently stationed at the Navotas port in Manila to help offset the area’s power shortage.

The power barges reportedly have a capacity of 40 to 50 MW each, he added.

DA-12 promotes Adlai as alternative staple

By. (PNA)

DCT/FFC/AVE/RSS


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, March 5 (PNA) -- Besides the traditional food staple like rice, corn and camote, the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Region 12 is now advocating the propagation of Adlai as an alternative food crop.

Amalia Datukan, DA-Region 12 director, said the regional office has started promoting Adlai in line with the directive issued by DA Secretary Proceso Alcala to make the country self-food sufficient.

Adlai (Coix lacryma-jobi L.) is a freely branching upright herb that grows as tall as three feet and propagates through seeds.

Known also as Job’s tears due to the tear-like shape of its grains, which come as white or brown, it belongs to the family Poaceae or the grasses, the same family to which wheat, corn and rice belong.

Adlai is used to make body accessories like beads and bracelets, according to a statement from the DA regional office.

Aside from food source, Adlai is also utilized as an alternative remedy against various diseases like tumor, appendicitis, arthritis, beriberi, bronchitis, diabetes, dysentery, fever, headache and many other ailments, it added.

Datukan said the regional office’s research stations have started planting this type of grass and that they are conducting research studies to further discover the other potentials of Adlai.

“We can complete Adlai’s potentials through the integrated cooperation of non-government organizations, private sectors and the DA,” she said.

“Through this, we will obtain essential results to develop additional mechanics on Adlai production, market projection and conventional and organic crop management system,” she added.

Recently, an Adlai farm technology demonstration in Barangay Carpenter Hill in Koronadal City was recorded to harvest more than three tons per hectare, the DA regional office said.

Adlai is usually harvested every after four or five months after planting. Its grains are separated from its stalks through a thresher, then dried before milled.

COMMENTARY: The titans clash but where is mining headed to?

By. Edwin G. Espejo


GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/03 March) — Two prominent persons representing the richest families in the country let their hair down and let loose scathing remarks against each other in front of national television in a forum Friday on the future of the mining industry in the Philippines. Manny Pangilinan, whose vast business empire has made him one of the most influential persons in the country, traded barbs with Regina Lopez, she of the old rich Lopez family who are into mass media and communication, real estate and utilities. While the two shared the same table during the mining conference, they are as diametrically opposed to each other as the west is to the east as far as mining issues are concerned. Lopez, whose anti-mining advocacy has rubbed off members of her own elite class, claimed the Philippines is better off developing its agriculture and tourism industries than destroying the forests and timberland in the name of mining. Pangilinan retorted that the country cannot move out of its backward economy without harnessing its mining potential even rattling off the precious metal components of one’s indispensable mobile phone. Pangilinan owns Smart Communications Inc., the country’s largest mobile communications provider with over 60 million subscribers (including that of its recently acquired Sun Cellular Inc.), and is also into the television industry where the Lopezes hold sway and are the acknowledge industry leader. Pangilinan is also the president of Philex Mining, one of the country’s largest operating mining companies today. Beyond their personal differences and rhetoric, Pangilinan and Lopez represent two contrasting and opposing camps on the mining issue in the country today. Pangilinan took the cudgels for the mining industry, which has traditionally drawn support from the country’s chamber of commerce, also offered middle ground where both government and the industry could resolve issues on revenue sharing and strict monitoring of the environment. Government wants more Secretary Ramon Paje of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources had earlier stated that the government wants to increase royalty fees on mining from 2 percent to 5 percent on top of the 2 per cent excise taxes. The Chamber of Mines however fears the government is moving towards a confiscatory policy which could drive away foreign investors. In setting the tone of the conference attended by well over 600 delegates, Leo Jasareno, Mines and Geosciences Bureau director, said the choice is between mining “that significantly contributes to the economic growth in a manner that mitigates impact on environment and improves the lives of the people or no mining at all.” In 2011, the metallic mining sector posted a gross production value of P122 billion, a 9 percent hike from the 2010 production. But Jasareno said despite the increase, the mining sector has not increased its share in the gross domestic product beyond 1.5 percent over the last few years. Paje also said the government loses about P5 billion a year for failure to collect royalty fees. The government said it is looking into other options and models and may adopt possible imposition of mineral resources rent as well as carbon tax. In the end, Jasareno said the “government was not against mining but that the industry should be made to cough up more money, mainly because of its bad track record in the Philippines and the country’s need for more revenues.” Pangilinan himself called on the private sector to be open to profit sharing scheme including giving host local government units their fair share of the revenues. Social issues Former Commission on Election chair Christian Monsod said mining has become and is a social issue given the dismal track record of large mining companies in the Philippines. One major concern he raised is whether mining companies should be held perpetually responsible for the post mine closure maintenance of leftover structures and for any damage that will arise from the hazards left behind by these mines. He suggested that the mining companies set aside an upfront fund to ensure that these issues will be covered in the future. Jasareno admitted that this concern is not covered under Republic Act 7942 or the Mining Act of 1995 . Clive Wicks, noted environmentalist and co-author of the book Mining or Food: Report on mining operations in the Philippines, warned that the biggest mining project in the country, the Tampakan Copper and Gold project poses a high-risk exposure to environmental disaster. The project is located in one of the active fault lines in South Cotabato and is less than 20 kilometers from the active volcano Mt. Matutum. He said the proposed two mine tailing dams with million gallons of hazardous mine leftovers could collapse in an event of a strong earthquake, both natural and induced, or when Sagittarius Mines Inc (SMI) begins blasting the area. A disaster of such magnitude could wreak unimaginable havoc to both lives and properties downstream. But SMI general manager Mark Williams said the Wicks scenario will not happen. Asked what guarantees these dams would not collapse, he said these will be designed to be virtually indestructible. The Catholic Church, three dioceses of them, in south central Mindanao is strongly opposed to the operation of SMI. The provincial government of South Cotabato has even passed an ordinance banning open pit mining operation in the province. This alleged ‘incongruence’ of local application and national policies on mining has been a major concern of the mining industry. The blame game Chamber of Mines of the Philippines president Benjamin Philip Romualdez urged the government to look into the small scale mining operations throughout the country which he claimed are almost beyond the reach of government regulators. Romualdez said unregulated small scale mining operations have left a negative impact on the industry. Oddly enough, small scale miners were not represented in the mining conference Friday. Romualdez said the imposition of higher royalty fees in gold production among small scale miners coincided with the drop in gold purchase by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. He said small scale miners are now smuggling gold outside the country. Jasareno however said of the 30 tons of gold purchased by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas last year, 68 percent of them came from small scale miners. But the mines bureau chief acknowledged that two conflicting laws on small scale mining have contributed to the inability of MGB to enforce the laws aside from the perennial lack of personnel and government geologists. He said the government is now looking into the situation and may introduce amendments to Congress. Controversial EO Malacañang (Office of the President) is already poised to release an executive order that would address concerns of the industry after it was delayed last month. Included are the royalty fee provision and a possible hike in the excise tax. The proposed EO also calls for the review of all existing mineral development and mining contracts which raised uproar in the business community. Finance secretary Cesar Purisima later assured industry leaders that the government will honor all existing mining contracts. The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which most likely has seen the draft order, has cited lack of consultation in opposing the proposed executive order. Chamber president Ed Lacson said the controversial EO could “make or break” the mining industry. But Jasareno believes the country “possess a strong mineral resource base that justifies mining as a development option – for as long as it is responsible mining where benefits far outweigh the costs.” “Left on the ground, these minerals cannot generate wealth,” he added in his opening speech. But ABS-CBN Foundation director Regina Lopez is unconvinced. What wealth are we talking about?” she said. She said Filipinos can earn more when the same mining areas are developed into tourism areas. Despite fundamental differences between pro-mining group and advocates of environment protection present in the conference, all were agreed that Philippines “can’t live without mining.” One wonders what would have been the outcome of the conference had the organizers also invited peasants, workers and indigenous peoples who are first to be affected by the operations of these big mining companies. All these marginalized people would have preferred that is when the rich are clashing, the poor should not be bearing the blame. (MindaViews is the opinion section of MindaNews. Edwin Espejo writes for asiancorrespondent.com)

Feature: Convergence in divergence in GenSan’s 2012 Kalilangan Festival

By. Catherine T. Apelacio


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, March 3 (PIA) -- It’s more fun sa Kalilangan! This is people’s simple and plain expression of joy for this year’s festival of the people, the “Kalilangan Festival” which gathers and connects people. The 16th Kalilangan Festival and the 73rd Foundation Anniversary celebration of General Santos City ended Monday (Feb 27) with a even as the day was also declared special holiday for the Generals (people of GenSan) pursuant to Proclamation No. 331 issued by President Benigno S. Aquino III. Festival Director Mimi Abiera said this year’s celebration highlighted the “convergence in divergence” celebrating the cultures of tri-people who despite being diverse have lived to co-exist with one another and enriched these cultures even more. Tri-people refers to Indigenous Peoples (IPs), the Muslims and the Christians who for decades now have shared common histories, cultures and traditions manifested by a long-time respect for coexistence. Kalilangan 2012 is an annual celebration that gives recognition to its founding pioneers—the early inhabitants who were the Blaans and Maguindanaons and the pioneering settlers represented by the Luzon-Visayan speaking peoples, said Abiera. With the theme, "Convergence in Divergence: Enriching Heritage, Bridging Cultures," this year’s celebration was all poised to give more fun and entertainment out of the rich culture and heritage the city has been endowed with.

But the Kalilangan was not just fun, it was also jampacked with educational and relevant activities that offered to engage diverse audiences. These activities aimed to promote increased awareness and appreciation of the city’s heritage and uniqueness. According to organizers they were very proud of the event as it did not only feature GenSan’s heritage and culture but also complemented with the city's vision of “economic activity, promotion of tourism and agriculture and responsible entertainment.” “Our aim is to revitalize and invigorate our experiences of these vibrant and wonderful cultures and traditions,” Abiera mused saying last year the 12th ATOP (Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines) named Kalingan Festival as 2011 Best Tourism Event of the Philippines, Culture and Arts Category-City Level..

On February 10, a Soft Opening for the fest was held at the Oval grounds with Mini Zoo, Plaza Bazaar, Food Galore and Carnival rides as the celebration’s opening salvo.

The Festival’s Grand Opening on February 21 highlighted various activities such as the traditional houses exhibit, snake and fish show, agri fair, recoreda sa barangay, farmer’s day - fiesta bonanza and Caritela, Tanghal-Mindanao State University Theater, hiphop dance contest, RGMA Singing for Peace in Mindanao, cookfest of indigenous products, Laro ng Lahi, sports competitions, motocross, rodeo competition, dance dport competition, battle of the banda-layag and many others. Once again, the crowd drawer ethnic sports competition "Laro Ng Lahi" has “hooked” audience to either participate or cheer for their most betted traditional game. These included Kadang Marathon, Sack Race, Patintero, Palosebo, Tug of War, Sungka, Skipping Rope, Tabanug (kite-flying) and the board game Dama.

It was also an awesomely fun-filled adventure for the young and the techno-savvy as they were introduced to new brand of activity---the Cosplay or Costume Playing but this time, it was the Pinoy heroes who took center stage, not the foreign characters. As it has always been, the Closing or Salubungan “Parada ng Lahi” at 5:00 A.M. Monday was dramatic as Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio led some 1,000 people in a parade to commemorate the arrival of different tribes headed by General Paulino Santos, by whom the city was named after. Custodio, reminiscent of the contributions of the pioneering settlers during the early years chanted tributes and salutes in honor of them taking pride of the significant developments they have introduced in this area. The finale also brought contingents from all over SocSarGen (South Cotabato-Sarangani-General Santos City) garbed in multihued costumes and props for a dance challenge in Kadsagayan Street Dancing. The barangay City Heights-sponsored Bambad National High School was named champion with Php120,000.00 cash prize. The SPED Integrated School bagged the first-runner up while the GenSan Trade School’s Indak Kabataan Performing Group earned the 2nd-runner up title. For 17 days straight, not only the Generals became living witnesses to the fun, parties and merry-making but also international and local tourists alike who came in to take a peep of the widely popular Kalilangan fest. Nighttime fell and so the festivity ended with an artistically-crafted colorful fireworks display, however, the Disco sa Kalye went on to heat up discogoers till the wee hours. To the organizers, the 2012 Kalilangan’s success was all worth the efforts and pains they have to go through in the course of the event preparation. Now they smile and bask at people’s testimony of success—a proof that their hardwork has indeed paid off! (CTA/PIA General Santos City)





GenSan law school produces 11 new lawyers; passing average improves

By. (PNA)

FFC/AVE


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, March 2 (PNA) -- The Mindanao State University’s (MSU) College of Law extension campus here has produced 11 new lawyers as the university’s passing average improved significantly in the 2011 bar examinations.

Lawyer Mariano Lugares, dean of the MSU-General Santos College of Law, said Friday the 11 new lawyers were among its 34 graduates that took the bar examinations held at the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) campus in Manila last November.

He said the university posted a passing average of 32.35 percent in the 2011 bar exams based on the results released last Wednesday.

“It was higher than the national passing average of 31.93 percent and a big leap from the 18 percent average last year,” Lugares said.

Of the 11 bar passers, he said eight were fresh graduates of the college while the three others were second takers.

The new lawyers from the college were Alma Lagayan, Libertine Cagang, Marnito Cosep Jr., Sheila Mae Jagolino, Cornelio Grino Jr., Mary Grace Guirhem, Ma. Jasmine Lood, Sittie Tonina Macasayon, Glenda Narcilla, Anthony Pantua and Ruby Jane Pena-Carena.

Lugares said most of the bar passers were working students from the city and nearby provinces of South Cotabato and Sarangani.

He said the college has been catering mainly to working students since it was mainly established to accommodate them.

“They (working students) are quite disciplined, especially with their time. I think that helped greatly for most of our successful bar passers these past years,” he said.

Lugares said the college is satisfied with the performance of their graduates in the 2011 bar examination but cited that they continually improving their standards in a bid to produce more quality lawyers.

He added that among the college’s current faculty pool are veteran trial lawyers, local politicians and judges based in the area.

HPG-12 chief sacked over alleged use of recovered stolen vehicles

By. (PNA)

LAP/AVE


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Feb. 28 (PNA) – Five days after commending them for recovering 16 alleged stolen motor vehicles here, the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) relieved its key personnel in Region 12 over accusations that they had used some of the seized units in their operations.

In a directive effective on Monday (Feb. 27), PNP-HPG national director Chief Supt. Leonardo Espina relieved HPG-12 chief Senior Supt. Jaime Macarilay pending an ongoing investigation into reports that the official and several other members of their unit utilized for various purposes two of the recovered stolen motor vehicles that were in their custody.

The relief order was endorsed by PNP-HPG’s human resources and development director Senior Supt. Fortunato Gutierrez.

Espina designated Senior Supt. Romeo Campomanes of HPG-Region 8 to replace Macarilay, who was directed to temporarily report for duty at the HPG headquarters in Camp Crame in Quezon City.

Aside from Macarilay, the HPG central office also relieved HPG-12 deputy director Chief Insp. Romeo Mon.

Reports came out Tuesday that 10 other HPG-12 personnel have sought their immediate relief and transfer to other assignments but personnel at the HPG central office’s operations management division told the Philippines News Agency over the phone that they have no information about the matter.

The vehicles allegedly used by Macarilay and his unit were among the 16 units that were reportedly stolen by the notorious Baktin carnapping syndicate in Metro Manila and were later shipped and disposed in the area.

HPG-12 personnel recovered the alleged carnapped motor vehicles, which included several sports utility vehicles (SUVs), in a series of operations in the city in the last two months as part of HPG’s special intelligence project dubbed Case Operation Plan “Inbox.”

Espina, who inspected the recovered carnapped vehicles here last week, confirmed that they were investigating the accusations against Macarilay, who was also facing a similar complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman-Mindanao.

“We’re presently looking into it based on the complaint and some evidence that we received,” the official said.

Interior and Local Governments Secretary Jesse Robredo earlier warned policemen against using recovered carnapped vehicles stressing it “constitutes grave misconduct that may subject them (violators) to summary dismissal proceedings.”

“Using recovered vehicles is both unethical and illegal, and we will definitely not tolerate cops who are doing this unacceptable practice in the police organization,” he said in a press statement.

The 16 seized motor vehicles were part of the 26 stolen units that they recovered in the second phase of their operations against the Baktin group, which was described by HPG as a big time carnapping and carjacking group operating nationwide.

The Baktin group, which was reportedly named after its leader Ryan Cain Yu alias Baktin, was considered a top player in carnapping operations in the country and runs the “re-birthing” of stolen vehicles, from hot cars to commercial-ready units, HPG records showed.

In a statement, the HPG noted that among the carnapped vehicles that were recovered in the city was a white Hyundai Starex van “that was forcibly carjacked from a businessman in Angeles City and replaced with license plates assigned to another car registered to movie and TV celebrity Luis Manzano.”

HPG-12 operatives seized the vehicle in a raid last February 8 at the residence of Barangay Dadiangas Heights councilor Joseph Salangsang, who had been charged before the Department of Justice for violation of Republic Act 6539 or the Anti-Carnapping Act of 1972.

Salangsang earlier protested the confiscation of his vehicle, saying he had obtained proper clearances from the HPG, Land Transportation Office and other concerned government agencies before acquiring it on July 11 last year.

Also charged was former Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG)-Mindanao director Mohamad “Bong” Aquia, who sold the unit to Salangsang in July last year.

“Case build-up efforts against Aquia uncovered his alleged involvement in other criminal cases, prompting the PNP to revoke last January his license to possess 29 firearms registered under his name. He has since been given reasonable time to surrender the guns after these firearms were deemed subject to confiscation in favor of the government,” the HPG said.

Police operatives raided Aquia’s residence in Barangay San Isidro here last February 23 but it turned out negative.

Aquia, in an interview aired over radio station Bombo Radyo on Tuesday, described the HPG’s actions against him as “harassment” and vowed to file the necessary counter-charges against all those who participated in the raid.






Alcala wants more fish exports

By. Marvyn N. Benaning


Manila, Philippines – Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala has urged aquaculture companies to export more processed fish products and called on livestock and poultry breeders to venture overseas. Alcala made the pitch in several trips to Mindanao, particularly in General Santos City, where the country’s tuna fleets are based, and in Sarangani, where the country’s biggest milkfish fry producer, Finfish Hatcheries Inc. (FHI), is located. Alsons Aquaculture Corp. (AAC) has already heeded the call, breaking into the China market in January 2012 with an initial nine-ton shipment of frozen milkfish (bangus) for distribution in retail outlets in Xiamen. Gabriel H. Alcantara, assistant vice president of the processed food division, said AAC would be the first company to test the potential of bangus exports in China. Being the first to set up a commercial hatchery and having been in the business for longer than 20 years, Finfish Hatcheries Inc. and AAC, both owned by the Alcantara Group of Companies, operate the only fully integrated fish culture operations in the Philippines. AAC has been into the lucrative export market in the US, home to more than three million Filipinos, and is seeking to target the European Union (EU) as well. Eighty percent of the company’s annual gross revenues come from its US exports. By breaking into the huge China market, AAC hopes to further entrench the position of the company as the country’s largest exporter of processed and packaged milkfish, Alcantara added. “The milkfish were hatched and raised in Alsons’ own aquaculture farm in Alabel, Sarangani and processed on-site at AAC’s state-of-the-art facility,” he said. Alcala noted that as 75 percent of the world’s major marine fish stocks are depleted, overexploited, or caught to the brink of extinction, the logical option is to go inland, or establish fish farms in mangrove areas or brackish waters. The Agriculture chief is correct in maintaining this position and the policy has been implemented not only by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), which is seeking to establish hundreds of hatcheries nationwide to propagate fin fish species while employing community labor to resuscitate the dying mangroves, which have been reduced by more than 70 percent as of last count. However, the Earth Web Site, which monitors the world’s marine stocks and land resources, warned that for aquaculture to be sustained, it must do away with aquaculture methods that unwittingly degrade the environment. This year, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) estimates that 50 percent of the world’s food fish will come from aquaculture. FAO also reported that Asia will be the hub of aquaculture since 89 percent of all ventures are located in the region. In issuing an alert on the possible dangers posed by less systematic and environmentally unsound aquaculture, Earth Web Site said, “for some of the 210 farmed aquatic and plant species, eight, particularly salmon and shrimp, the methods currently used require high energy inputs and can cause environmental degradation similar to industrial/chemical agriculture or factory farming of livestock.“ It listed the loss of natural habitat, loss of genetic diversity, and replacement of self-reliant indigenous fisheries with multinational corporations as key concerns.

MIND Da NEWS: Law Ruling Out Truth

By. Patricio P. Diaz


GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/25 February) — Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, chair of the Impeachment Court (IC) trying Chief Justice Renato C. Corona for culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust and graft and corruption, did a Solomonic decision with the admonition “Render unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God” during the hearing on Article 7 of the impeachment complaint last Wednesday and Thursday (February 22 and 23). On the witness stand was Justice Secretary Leila de Lima testifying why she defied last November 15 the Temporary Restraining Order issued by the Supreme Court. The TRO would have allowed former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to leave the country by restraining the Department of Justice from enforcing its Watch List Order banning her from traveling abroad because of impending criminal cases against her. De Lima stood by the DOJ’s WLO preventing Arroyo from boarding her plane for Singapore. In her oral testimony, relying mainly on the dissenting opinion of Associate Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, she related how Corona had the TRO enforced despite the failure of Arroyo to meet one of three conditions. Chief Defense Counsel Serafin Cuevas moved to strike out from the record De Lima’s testimony as mere hearsay – inadmissible according the Rules of Evidence. In response, Enrile ruled that the IC is trying an impeachment case, not a criminal case. The Rules of Evidence do not strictly apply. He ordered to keep on record De Lima’s testimony in full marked e HH as her testimony; but as to its truth or falsity relevant to the complaint it would be considered as hearsay evidence. In short, since De Lima has no personal knowledge of the Supreme Court proceedings, her testimony is hearsay. That half satisfies the position of the defense. The other half – keeping her testimony as her testimony – satisfies the prosecution as it can argue for its admission as evidence or have Sereno authenticate her dissenting opinion on record. Enrile has “rendered” to the defense what “belongs” to it – its position that De Lima’s testimony is hearsay according to the Rules of Evidence. At the same time he has “rendered” to the prosecution what “belongs” to it – the burden of validating truth in hearsay evidence. The hearing on Article 7, like that on Article 2, has exposed the contradiction in the “rule of law”. While touted as the “rule” to arrive at truth and justice, when convenient it is used to rule out truth. Behind this, the defense is ruling out the truth about Corona. Delima’s testimony was testimony by authority – an accepted mode of arriving at the truth. This is employed by scholars in their researches – primary, when referring directly to an author’s work; secondary, when referring to an author’s work as quoted by another author. De Lima’s reference was primary. The President reports to the nation from time to time based on the official reports of government offices and agencies. He has no personal knowledge of those official reports. By the Rules of Evidence, the State of the Nation Address, for instance, is hearsay. In judicial courts, reports are admitted as documentary evidence if authenticated. This must be the basis of Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago’s remark that the prosecution’s case is lost unless Justice Sereno can authenticate her dissenting opinion. This can happen if the prosecution can convince the IC to invite Sereno; if the prosecution can invite Sereno; or, if Sereno voluntarily appears as witness. But the Supreme Court has resolutions en banc banning the justices or any Court official from testifying in the IC trial and preventing the disclosure of Court records. How can the IC or the prosecution penetrate the tightly walled-in Supreme Court and have Sereno testify or authenticate her dissenting opinion on record? De Lima’s testimony contains damning truth. But considered as hearsay, it has to hurdle the imposing Rules of Evidence standing on the way; this can be admitted as evidence if Sereno can testify or authenticate her dissenting opinion on record. However, the Court resolutions also stand on the way. The rule of law in the form of Rules of Evidence and Court resolutions is ruling out truth that can convict Corona. This is the burden of the senators: Enrile has declared the IC is trying an impeachment case, not a criminal case; the Rules of Evidence do not strictly apply. Yet, unless the Supreme Court relaxes its ban on the appearance of justices as witnesses at IC hearings and on the disclosure of its records, Corona is untouchable behind the rule of law. Should the Supreme Court maintain its ban, will the senators relax their contemplation of the Rules of Evidence and admit De Lima’s testimony as prosecution evidence? Does the IC relish seeing the law ruling out truth? – (Patricio P. Diaz/MindaNews. MindaViews is the opinion section of MindaNews)

Anti-Terrorism Assistance team visits PNP 12

By. (CT Apelacio/With reports from PRO-RPIO 12/PIA General Santos City)


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Feb 25 (PIA)-- A dialogue to strengthen partnership on anti-terrorism initiatives has been forged here between the Police Regional Office (PRO) 12 and the representatives of U.S. Anti-Terrorism Assistance (ATA) Program last week.

The dialogue formed part of the briefing assessment of the ATAP courses that it extends to the country.

PSSupt. Robert Kiunisala, who is himself an ATAP recipient, led other police officials in welcoming the ATA officials headed by program manager Scott Schonauer.

Kiunisala said most of the ATA program recipients were developing nations “lacking in human and other resources needed to maintain an effective anti-terrorism program and infrastructure.”

The program is implemented in six countries, namely: Afghanistan, Colombia, Indonesia, Kenya, and the Philippines.

Protecting national borders; Protecting critical infrastructure; Protecting national leadership; Responding to and resolving terrorist incidents; and Managing critical terrorists incidents having national-level implication are some of the ATA trainings being undertaken to address deficiencies in its recipient countries.

The Police Regional Office-Regional Public Information Office (PRO-RPIO) here said ATA program focused on training “civilian security and law enforcement personnel” in police procedures that deal with terrorism.

The training includes bomb detection, crime scene investigation, airport and building security, maritime protections, and VIP protection.

“I am hoping that through this assessment, we can find more venues to work together for the attainment of a genuine peace and order not only here in the Philippines but in the entire world,” Kiunisala, representing regional director PCSupt. Benjardi Mantele told the ATA team.

He said with the technology advancement nowadays, it is easy to work closely “with our foreign counterpart so as to be able to effectively thwart the activities of terrorist groups that aim to sow fear and panic among our people.”

For his part, Schonauer expressed the hope that “U.S. and the Philippines will continue their harmonious relationship and be one in its goal to have a peaceful world.”

“The ATAP will never cease to continue enriching, enhancing and upgrading the skills of the law enforcers. I do hope that the new technologies that we gave will surely be used in case of any potential attack of rogue elements. Likewise, it will also improve your knowledge and as well as your critical skills in identifying and disposal of bombs, for it will bring great impact to your duties and responsibilities in saving people’s lives,” the Police Regional Information Office quoted Schonauer as saying.

Medical Services

By. www.mb.com.ph


GENERAL SANTOS CITY (PNA) — In a bid to enhance its health services, the provincial government of South Cotabato and a local non-government organization (NGO) launched a new program that will provide cheaper medicine packages for various surgical and medical needs of poor residents in the area. Dr. Rogelio Aturdido, South Cotabato health officer, said they launched the surgical and medical packs program with Mahintana Foundation to ensure the availability of medicines at the South Cotabato Provincial Hospital. “This is to give better health services to our poor patients,” he said.

Daily rotating brownouts hit GenSan anew

By. (PNA)

LAP/FFC/AVE/RSS


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Feb. 23 (PNA) — Due to insufficient power supply in the Mindanao grid, residential and business establishments in this city and two neighboring provinces will have to bear a daily rotating one-hour outage for about two weeks, an official said.

Rodolfo Ocat, South Cotabato Electric Cooperative II (Socoteco II) general manager, said the daily rotating one-hour brownout will last until March 4.

The electric cooperative implemented the load shedding on Wednesday, spanning a total of 10 hours from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

“As your distribution utility, Socoteco II appeals for public understanding on this matter, which is beyond its capacity to control,” Ocat said.

Socoteco II solely serves the entire General Santos City, the “Tuna Capital of the Philippines,” and Sarangani province and parts of South Cotabato, which are under Region 12 or Soccsksargen Region.

Ocat said the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has issued an advisory that the Mindanao grid is on red alert status, with zero contingency reserve due to generation deficiency.

Socoteco II needs to adhere to the “Load to Maintain Against Generation Deficiency Matrix” issued by NGCP for the month of February, he added.

Owing to the supply lack, Ocat urged power consumers to observe conservation measures especially from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. of the day.

He noted that Therma Marine Inc., a subsidiary of Aboitiz Power Corp., is augmenting the power needs of the cooperative.

The state-run National Power Corp. (NPC) has reduced its power allocation to Socoteco II, reportedly by 32 megawatts starting this year, due to the dwindling capacity of its hydropower plants in Bukidnon and the Lanao provinces.

Last year, Socoteco II forged a supply deal of 18 MW with Therma Marine in anticipation of the expected load shortage due to insufficient generation capacities.

Based on the NGCP’s outlook for Thursday, the Mindanao grid has a system capacity of 1117 MW and a peak load of 1247 MW, or a shortage of 130 MW.

Farmers in Region 12 learn to make cash from trash

By. (PNA)

LAP/AVE/RSS


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Feb. 22 (PNA) - There’s cash from trash.

Pomelo growers in North Cotabato are expecting to earn more income after they were taught that there’s money in the fruit’s peelings, which they previously just threw away.

In a recent training initiated by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Region 12, the pomelo growers learned how to turn the peelings into healthy capsule and tea.

At least 39 pomelo growers in the town of M’lang also expressed gratitude that they were armed with the knowledge to produce bottled pomelo juice and candies, among others.

Belonging to the Pomelo Growers Association in M’lang, the group is slated to receive funding from the local government unit to pursue an integrated pomelo fruit processing venture.

M’lang Mayor Joselito Piňol pledged to allocate P100,000 for the group as an initial capital following the food processing training conducted by the Industrial Technology and Development Institute (ITDI), an attached agency of the DOST.

During the training, the growers were also taught about Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to make their products safe and acceptable in both the domestic and international markets.

“We are amazed of these very promising DOST technologies. We can now be more profitable not only by selling fresh pomelo fruits but gaining much income from its peelings which we use to throw away,” Angel Porras, the association’s vice president, said.

Zenaida Hadji Raof Laidan, DOST-12 director, said that growers who will process the pomelo fruit stand to earn additional income with more consumers becoming health-conscious nowadays.

Pomelo, an exotic fruit known for its juicy flesh, is widely grown in North Cotabato. It is rich in vitamins and a good source of folic acid and potassium.

The fruit also has therapeutic values that help fight cancer, prevent osteoporosis, reduce high cholesterol, and aids digestion. It can also help lose weight, clear arterial deposits and fight infections.

Laidan urged the pomelo growers to avail the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading (SETUP) program, the umbrella project of the DOST with a nationwide implementation to assist micro, small and medium enterprises become technologically competent.

Aside from training support, the other assistance includes product standardization thru laboratory testing and analysis, packaging and labeling, and consultancy services through the Consultancy For Agricultural and Manufacturing Improvement and Manufacturing Productivity Extension Program.

Journalists train how to shoot By Jess Dureza (Davao City)

By. mindanaoexaminer.com


GUN TRAINING - Over the weekend, two groups of working media men and women gathered together coming from two opposite directions -- from Davao City in the north and General Santos City in the south. They travelled for about an hour and converged at a half-way location, the Seagull Resort shooting range along the Davao-Gensan highway in Hagonoy, Davao del Sur. When they arrived at the pistol and rifle shooting range area, a shooting competition was also in progress with gun enthusiasts from different areas participating in a five-stage "fun shoot."

Philippine Practical Shooting Association (PPSA) area director Jay Dureza (my son) and his fellow range officers (ROs) were on site supervising the day-long "shoot." Immediately upon their arrival, the 30 or so working journalists lost no time and started buckling down to serious work indoors while noise of gunshots of competitors filled the air outside.

SECURITY BRIEFING - The first session was getting practical briefings and tips on how to deal with security situations with experienced Police Officer Butch Requilman of the Davao Sur police command as lecturer. He first traced why members of media by the nature of their work were natural targets of security threats. He also outlined how to deal with them and how to spot and detect security threat situations and how to counter them. There were interesting tips on "counter surveillance."

For example, how do you detect if someone is trailing or "casing" you. Tips like walking and slowing down, then increasing your pace or suddenly turning around. If you are driving, abruptly changing speed by slowing down then speeding can betray a tailing suspect. If you are in shopping centers or malls, spot someone shadowing you by using reflections from glass panes or suddenly entering and exiting or mixing with the crowd to "shake him off." At home, take note of unfamiliar persons "posting" or loitering in the neighborhood or motorcycles or vehicles parked nearby and jotting down descriptions or plate numbers.

Avoid or change "patterns" like routes and time of going home or to places of work. One is most vulnerable when getting out from the house in the mornings or in going home at the end of the day or at your place of work because that's the easiest and most convenient site to wait for you in ambush. All the attackers will simply do is stake you out and wait by your gate to make the hit. Many other helpful and practical tips were discussed. For example, contrary to popular belief, one is also an easy target if inside a vehicle because the occupant's options are limited hence presence of mind and alertness are necessary for survival.

He said it's useless hiring bodyguards following you in another vehicle if they cannot react timely to an attack. Practicing contingency emergency driving like stepping on the gas or evasive driving for you or your driver are survival tips. Just because one believes he has not wronged someone does not mean he is immune from danger. Bottom line: always be on the alert. By the way, these helpful tips apply to all of us, whether mediamen or not!

SAFE GUN HANDLING RULES - Range Officer (RO) Don Advincula, an accredited member of the national range officers institute (NROI) lectured on how to handle a gun. There are four cardinal rules to remember in gun handling. FIRST, always assume that the gun is loaded, even if you have already removed the ammo. Or even if you have checked it already.

SECOND, never point the muzzle or barrel of the gun at anything that you do not wish to destroy or harm. That means pointing your gun skyward or downward if you have a drawn gun in your hands and not ready to fire yet. Don't point a gun at someone or at yourself even if you are "sure" that there is no ammo (like the reckless practice of peeping down its barrel to check if it is clean, unless you are prepared to commit suicide).

THIRD, keep your finger away from the trigger unless you are prepared to shoot. (Discipline that dirty finger!) FOURTH, know what is beyond or around your intended target. If these four rules are followed by everyone, then no accidents will happen.


SHOOTING RANGE ETIQUETTE - There are other interesting and important points or rules of safety and etiquette to remember once one is inside a shooting range. Important first rule is: unload your firearm before or upon entering the range premises. It is a cardinal rule that you separate the bullets from the gun at all times. Hence magazines with ammo are removed away from the gun. Notice that practical shooters walk around in the range with all gears but their guns are holstered without mags.

At no instance should the firearm and the live bullet be put together unless you are already in a specific stage ready to compete but only, I repeat, only upon the specific instruction or authorization by the concerned range officer (RO). Once inside, there are only two locations or areas where you are allowed to handle your firearm: One, inside the specific areas (called "stage") where you shoot at targets but only upon express authorization or command by the designated RO and two, at designated places called "safety areas."

Even in rare instances when you are roaming around the range area and your holstered firearm, for one reason or another falls on the ground, you do not immediately pick up the gun from the ground. The proper procedure is to look for a range officer (they are attired distinctively and usually with black and white stripes) and it is only upon his express authorization that you can pick it up or for the RO to pick it up himself. There are properly designated "SAFETY AREAS" inside the range.

In that designated place you can handle your gun, practice without ammo, draw and dry fire, or even insert your empty magazine or adjust or repair your firearm. But the cardinal rule is there is no ammo involved in those activities. The only -- I repeat, the only time a shooter is allowed to load his gun with ammo is only while at a particular shooting stage and only upon specific instruction by the RO whose range command is" load and make ready."

"FIRING!" Once you are in a specific area where you are supposed to shoot at targets (called a stage), there are also rules to observe. First, you must wear eye and ear protection gears like ear muffs and eye glasses. In that place, the designated RO is the only boss and no one else. He gives the specific commands. Before firing, a loud call 'FIRING" is announced.

Firearms are pointed only downrange or at "safe directions." Pointing or leveling your barrel or muzzle beyond 180 degrees (straight to your left or right) or in an unsafe direction (like unconsciously swinging your gun to the crowd around) is a violation of the basic rules. It can result to an outright disqualification (DQ) from the competition. After finishing the stage, the shooter must immediately remove the magazine, open the chamber to eject an unspent ammo, if any, then show to the RO it's clear of ammo ( RO command: "show clear") and then with muzzle pointed downwards or towards the ground, the trigger is pulled (RO command:"hammer down".) The final act is to holster the gun without the mag.

ACTUAL DEMO - Enough of the lectures. After the interesting session indoors, the journalists then moved to the open field where a "stage" for actual demonstration was prepared with paper targets. Reloads were used. And all of them, applying the rules learned during the briefing session, each fired several rounds upon the close supervision of RO Don. That was to be the best part, spent at the outdoor firing range sniffing gunpowder, puncturing paper targets and downing metal plates. Well, most of it was actually punching holes on the ground as many of them handled handguns and shooting at targets for the first time in their lives.

COMPETITION WINNERS - Feeling confident after firing several practice rounds, the group decided to try out for the "real thing." We transferred to one of the competition stages and a majority of them joined the actual competition but limited only to Stage No. 5. Of course their cameras also dominated the "shoot" so expect a flood of FaceBook uploads soon. Their scores were officially tabulated. I put up cash prizes for the top three shooters. The results (media division): Champion, ZALDY CANEDO (ABS-CBN radio, Davao City); 2nd place, AQUILES ZONIO (Inquirer, General Santos City) 3rd place, HOPE TEODORO, (Gen Santos City.)

The winners evidently were not "first timers" or "shooting virgins". Two lady reporters had the grace and determination to join in:, "shooting virgins" (or "first timers", if you will) Emilord Castromayor of the Mindanao Times and Lady Reporter Ivy.

HOW IT STARTED - The day-long event for media was first planned when several journalists from General Santos City expressed concern to me about their personal safety following several violent incidents. Their colleagues were helplessly gunned down by unknown attackers recently. Worse, during the most recent attack on murdered Publisher Chris Guarin, even sympathizing colleagues who delivered eulogies during the funeral of the slain journalist were subsequently threatened with death threats themselves.

Take the case of media man Boboy Mascardo whose only fault was that he publicly warned the still unknown attackers of Chris during the latter's necrological services that the law would eventually catch up with them. Instead of "striking fear" on the murderers, it even provoked them into zeroing in Mascardo himself.

The following day his wife, Mrs.Gigi Mascardo called me by phone asking for help when suspicious-looking men started harassing them and even parking their motorcycles outside their gate. I told her, among other things, to report to the police and get some help. Then, I advised her that her husband must get a gun to protect himself. (You bet,Boboy Mascardo joined the Saturday event, although he came late after coming from an event in an MILF-controlled area.)

What happened in the killing of Chris was instructive. He was unarmed and driving his car on his way home from his radio program with his wife on board. Two men, riding in tandem on a motorcycle suddenly appeared from nowhere and opened fire. Chris was not fatally hit at the first volley. He jumped out of the car as he shouted to his wife to stay and take cover. Evidently, his purpose was to divert the gunfire away from the car to save his wife and attempt to escape. He was finished off by the attackers while doing that. Friends surmised that if Chris were only armed with a handgun at that time, he would have a better chance of surviving the attack.

POST SCRIPT -- The idea of training journalists how to be responsible gun holders -- with some basic gun- handling skills -- was in my drawing boards for a long time now. A journalist, especially in security-challenged areas will be able to exercise his profession better and less threatened hence freer and not restrained to do his/her job if he feels confident that he can secure himself during critical moments. I felt strongly about this when I faced my own moments during my early days as a journalist. I do not however prescribe this to all journalists. This must be done only on a case to case basis. The decision must be left to the individual persons, depending on the situation they are in.

It was already getting dark last Saturday late afternoon when the journalists were leaving the range. This naughty reporter as a parting remark said: " In behalf of all of us, we thank you. Sir Jess, for this. We are more confident now than ever. And the would-be assassins will be a bit hesitant now knowing that we are ready for them. Aside from us, the guns-for-hire will have also to thank you. Now that we have become difficult targets than before, the for-hire-killers will now have a reason go back to their masterminds or those who contracted them and demand for a raise of the 'hit money. Their tariff rates have suddenly increased because of you!".

Gen. Santos City to host BIMP-EAGA Friendship Games

By. PNA


The tourism industry in Gen. Santos City is expected to grow this year with the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines–East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) deciding to let the city host the 7th BIMP-EAGA Friendship Games. Gen. Santos has been the country's "city of champions" being the home of world pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao, Miss Universe 2011 third runner up Shamcey Supsup, and Pacman heir-apparent Nonito Donaire, among others. The upcoming sports events slated later this year shall be spearheaded by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) in partnership with Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio of General Santos City and Gov. Miguel Rene Dominguez of the Province of Saranggani. According to Joaquin Loyzaga, PSC commissioner, among the games to be played are lawn tennis, athletics (track and field), badminton, sepak takraw, swimming and table tennis. He added that each country will have separate teams for boys and girls, except for sepak takraw which will be exclusive for boys. The event is open to all athletes aged 21 years old and below and must come from the BIMP-EAGA member countries. The Gen. Santos City Tourism Office has proposed during the organizing committee meeting that a roadshow covering the four participating countries to help promote culture, tourism, sports and trade, and improve linkages and ties between the delegates and their respective countries along with the event itself. Believing Mindanao has untapped talented athletes, Loyzaga said they are hoping to bring more sports programs outside of Manila especially to Mindanao and schedule more of such programs as possible. Secretary Luwalhati Antonino, Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) chair, said that the BIMP-EAGA friendship games affords opportunity not just for sports development but also for tourism promotion and improvement of the ties among the focus areas of EAGA. "We are advancing our BIMP-EAGA initiatives in this particular area of cooperation to promote the sub-region as a melting pot of sports talents and world class athletes while showcasing our great culture" said Antonino, said in a statement. Antonino, former Gen. Santos City mayor, is also the Philippine Signing Minister to EAGA. BIMP-EAGA is an economic cooperation formally created in 1994 covering the entire Brunei Darussalam; 10 provinces in the Indonesian islands of Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku and Irian Jaya; Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan in Malaysia; and Mindanao and Palawan in the Philippines. The ASEAN sub-grouping is a mechanism primarily intended to spur development in the lagging sub-economies of the member countries by boosting intra-EAGA trade, tourism and investments.

Friendship Games

By. Mindanao Newsbits


GENERAL SANTOS CITY (PNA) – The tourism industry here is expected to grow this year with the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) deciding to let the city host the 7th BIMP-EAGA Friendship Games.

This city has been the country’s “city of champions” being the home of pound-for-pound king Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, Miss Universe 2011 third runner-up Shamcey Supsup, and Pacman heir-apparent Nonito Donaire, among others.

The upcoming sports event slated later this year will be spearheaded by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) in partnership with Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio, and Sarangani Governor Miguel Rene Dominguez.

Gen. Santos City to host BIMP-EAGA Friendship Games

By. (PNA)

DCT/LAM/NYP/EOF


COTABATO CITY, Feb. 18 (PNA) -- The tourism industry in Gen. Santos City is expected to grow this year with the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines–East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) deciding to let the city host the 7th BIMP-EAGA Friendship Games.

Gen. Santos has been the country's "city of champions" being the home of world pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao, Miss Universe 2011 third runner up Shamcey Supsup, and Pacman heir-apparent Nonito Donaire, among others.

The upcoming sports events slated later this year shall be spearheaded by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) in partnership with Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio of General Santos City and Gov. Miguel Rene Dominguez of the Province of Saranggani.

According to Joaquin Loyzaga, PSC commissioner, among the games to be played are lawn tennis, athletics (track and field), badminton, sepak takraw, swimming and table tennis.

He added that each country will have separate teams for boys and girls, except for sepak takraw which will be exclusive for boys.

The event is open to all athletes aged 21 years old and below and must come from the BIMP-EAGA member countries.

The Gen. Santos City Tourism Office has proposed during the organizing committee meeting that a roadshow covering the four participating countries to help promote culture, tourism, sports and trade, and improve linkages and ties between the delegates and their respective countries along with the event itself.

Believing Mindanao has untapped talented athletes, Loyzaga said they are hoping to bring more sports programs outside of Manila especially to Mindanao and schedule more of such programs as possible.

Secretary Luwalhati Antonino, Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) chair, said that the BIMP-EAGA friendship games affords opportunity not just for sports development but also for tourism promotion and improvement of the ties among the focus areas of EAGA.

"We are advancing our BIMP-EAGA initiatives in this particular area of cooperation to promote the sub-region as a melting pot of sports talents and world class athletes while showcasing our great culture" said Antonino, said in a statement.

Antonino, former Gen. Santos City mayor, is also the Philippine Signing Minister to EAGA.

BIMP-EAGA is an economic cooperation formally created in 1994 covering the entire Brunei Darussalam; 10 provinces in the Indonesian islands of Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku and Irian Jaya; Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan in Malaysia; and Mindanao and Palawan in the Philippines.

The ASEAN sub-grouping is a mechanism primarily intended to spur development in the lagging sub-economies of the member countries by boosting intra-EAGA trade, tourism and investments.

RTWPB-12 defers decision on new wage adjustment

By. (PNA)

FFC/AVE/RSS


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Feb. 17 (PNA) -- Minimum wage earners in Region 12 or the Soccsksargen Region will have to wait another month to know whether their salary rates would be adjusted.

This after the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) did not issue a decision during their meeting last Wednesday regarding the minimum wages of private sector workers in the region.

Chona Mantilla, newly installed regional director of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), said Friday the board’s members have agreed to defer the matter late in March.

"There will be a new round of meetings on March 27 and 28 that will determine the steps we would take in as far as the minimum wage rates of private sector workers are concerned," she said.

Early next month, Mantilla said they are slated to attend a National Wages and Productivity Commission conference in Davao City, which might help them address the wage condition in Region 12.

Region 12 covers the provinces of South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato.

So far, no labor groups have formally filed a petition with the wage board seeking an adjustment in salaries.

Early this week, Jessie dela Cruz, RTWPB secretary, told reporters that prices of basic consumer goods across the region have generally stayed the same in the past few months.

Dela Cruz said data earlier presented by the regional offices of the National Economic and Development Authority and the Department of Trade and Industry, among others, “show no reason” to increase the minimum wage in the area.

Such findings were based on the results of the public consultations held last January 25 and 26 in the cities of General Santos and Kidapawan, respectively,

The wage order in effect for Region 12 was issued on October 31, 2010. Under the law, it has a life of one year but can be altered within such period if a supervening condition exists.

Based on Wage Order XII-16, the minimum daily wage rates in the region stands at P260 for non-agriculture workers, P240 for plantation workers, P235 for non-plantation workers, P240 for retail/service establishments employing not more than 10 workers and P234 for retail/service establishments employing less than 10 people.

Feature: JTF GenSan helps make teacher’s dream come true

By. Catherine T. Apelacio


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Feb. 16 (PIA) -- What happens when a soldier who is a staunch advocate for development meets a passionate teacher-innovator?

In a far-flung sitios of barangay San Jose here, a soldier whose vision was to touch the lives of people through concretizing developmental projects met a teacher whose passion was to teach, conceptualize, and invent meaningful projects for the less-fortunate.

That was how Joint Task Force (JTF) GenSan commander Philippine Army Col. Joselito Kakilala came to meet teacher-thinker William Moraca, a school head then of Klolang Primary School and Datal Salvan Elementary School. Kakilala being so involved in the Task Force community works has seen the potential of Moraca as instrument in developing sitios Klolang and Datal Salvan, San Jose thru his electrification and water system inventions.

Sitio Klolang has some 45 houses. It had no light to either inspire children to study harder or provide entertainment for adults. Datal Salvan, on the other hand, had no decent water system to call its own. Consequently, both communities lived then in sheer bleakness and misery day and night.

Thus Moraca came up with the idea of seriously considering an electrification project on his own volition for sitio Klolang.

Kakilala, a Presidential Lingkod Bayan awardee has led JTF since assuming office to become a visible force in responding to various community needs in accordance with the unit’s capability.

Through Kakilala’s vanguard of leadership, JTF evolved not only as mere security peacekeepers of General Santos City but it went the “extra mile” to extend assistance in select areas where uplifting human welfare is seldom met, and that included Klolang and Datal Salvan.

Moraca’s areas of responsibility were perfect for this aspiration, so JTF through Kakilala set foot in making a teacher’s dream soon come true.

The 3,809-hectare spread San Jose, 17.5 km from the city proper, considered as one of the productive barangays of GenSan nestled in a rolling hills of large plantation of banana, pineapple, asparagus, corn, mango, coconut and other agricultural products, is underdeveloped, lacking facilities to address the needs of its 22 sitios or puroks.

With a population of 7,651, the barangay has 1,614 households belonging to indigenous people groups, Blaan and Tboli.

Some of its sitios like Klolang “does not have access to electricity and its farm-to-market roads were oftentimes destroyed by water during heavy rainfalls,” said Col. Kakilala. The situation, however, never discouraged the kind-hearted Moraca as he went on to serve the village children with all-out support.

Instead of complaining his plight and that of his pupil, Moraca thought of a brilliant solution to give himself, his pupils, and the whole community some sort of comfort and hope.

Moraca built a rotary windmill-type ventilation made of galvanized iron. He later converted it as source of electricity by attaching a bearing and shaft connected to an alternator that charges from a 12-volt wet-cell battery.

Not yet contented, he further connected the now tangible apparatus to “a converter to produce 220 volts amperes and 3,000 watts capacity.”

A complete power amenity now, it was then installed at the rooftop of Klolang school building with the help of JTF soldiers.

Col. Kakilala then decided to extend the electrification outside the school to reach several houses by putting in some more funds to enhance and expand the project. He made sure the project will be completed by providing all the needed supplies and materials mobilizing his men to ensure that assistance will not be derailed.

Since October, Moraca’s power-generating windmill has been enjoyed by some 300 residents in Sitio Klolang. Because of this, village children can now study their lessons and both adults and children have now access to cable television out of free electricity.

By nature, innovativeness never ceases in Moraca’s mind. He came up once again with an idea of water system by putting up “magnetic force fan from which draws water from a downstream spring beside a 40-feet river.” With an almost 45-degree slope, fresh water goes up and serves the community of sitio Datal Salvan today. With the water system in place, Datal Salvan’s children now use the fresh water in bathing and cleaning themselves to be able to observe proper hygiene. Before, they had to go up hilly slope to fetch water from a river.

Col. Kakilala said Moraca’s inventions opened the eyes of government officials to acknowledge and address the need of the underdeveloped rural communities. He attributed the inventions as trailblazers for other programs and projects to pour in the areas.

Both projects were inaugurated in October 2011 with JTF-GenSan leading the activity.

For villagers, life is not the same anymore, now they have an electricity to light up their lives and water to sustain them—all born out of good partnership between a concerned individual and a government representative, who both have the commitment and mandate to serve. (CTA/PIA General Santos City)

GenSan ups security for Kalilangan Festival

By. Allen V. Estabillo


GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/14 February) – Police have raised the security alert in the entire city in preparation for the city’s upcoming week-long 73rd foundation anniversary celebration and 16th Kalilangan Festival. Senior Supt. Cedric Train, city police director, said Tuesday they deployed additional personnel at the oval plaza and other public places in the city as part of their security plan for the festivities, which would formally start on Feb. 21 and end on Feb. 27. Aside from the tightened security measures, Train said they have intensified their intelligence monitoring against possible plans by local terror and criminal groups to disrupt the upcoming celebrations. “We have assigned around 200 police personnel to secure the oval plaza grounds and other festival venues,” the police official said.

He said their deployment would be augmented by elements from the Army-led Joint Task Force GenSan, Police Regional Office 12’s regional public safety battalion and barangay peacekeeping action teams.

Train said they have coordinated with officials of the Mindanao State University-General Santos, which is the organizer of this year’s celebration, to ensure the proper implementation of their prepared security plan in all festival activities.

He said they have made some adjustments with last year’s security measures due to some changes in this year’s lined up activities.

Among them is the holding of the “Kalilangan sa Barangay” in some barangay centers as part of the highlights of this year’s festivities, he said.

This year’s festivities will focus on the theme: “Convergence in Divergence: Enriching Heritage, Bridging Cultures.”

MSU Vice-Chancellor Dr. Mary Lynn Abiera, Kalilangan festival director, said this year’s celebration will highlight the convergence of the tri-people – Christians, Lumads or Indigenous Peoples, and Muslims – who have lived in co-existence with one another since the first settlement in the area was established seven decades ago.

“It will showcase the city’s rich heritage and culture and also serve as a venue for fostering mutual respect for our diverse beliefs and values,” she said.

Among the highlights of this year’s festivities are the Kalilangan night market, farmers’ day, rodeo competition, agri fair, traditional houses exhibit, snake and fish show, cook fest of indigenous products, history forum, cosplay featuring Pinoy characters, Kulintangan-Pangalay showcase and Kadsagayan street dancing competition.

Organizers also lined up nightly shows at the oval plaza, concerts, sports competitions, theatrical shows, workshops, among others. Last week, the Kalilangan bazaar, carnival, mini zoo, and food stalls at the oval plaza grounds initially opened to jumpstart the pre-festival activities. (Allen V. Estabillo / MindaNews)

No need for wage hike yet in Region 12 -DoLE

By. (PNA)

LDV/AVE/RSS


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Feb. 14 (PNA) –- The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) in Region 12 or the Soccsksargen Region is not keen on another wage adjustment for private workers in the area, as the region’s economy has reportedly remained stable during the past several months.

Jessie dela Cruz, Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) secretary, said Tuesday the prices of basic consumer goods have generally stayed on the same level in various markets in the region.

“Based on the recent consultations, the prices of basic consumer goods have not moved except for a few. The price changes may not be enough to warrant another wage increase for private workers,” he said.

Dela Cruz noted that there is no supervening condition in Region 12 so far based on data presented by the regional offices of the National Economic and Development Authority and the Department of Trade and Industry.

A declaration of a supervening condition, which, among others, can be triggered by continuous increase in prices of basic commodities, would warrant an adjustment in the salaries of workers even if the one-year wage order prescription has not expired.

The wage order in effect for Region 12 was approved on October 31, 2010. It directed a two-tranche increase of P15 for the daily cost of living allowance of private sector workers.

The NEDA report in particular states that prices of consumer goods have remained stable across the region, Dela Cruz said.

He admitted that prices of fuel products in the region have gone up, but claimed that “it was not an enough supervening condition” to adjust the salaries of workers since there are also oil price roll backs.

The RTWPB conducted public consultations last January 25 and 26, in the cities of General Santos and Kidapawan, respectively.

The results of these consultations will be tackled by the RTWPB on Wednesday for decision, Dela Cruz said.

Region 12 covers the provinces of South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato.

Based on Wage Order XII-16, the minimum daily wage rates in the region stands at P260 for non-agriculture workers, P240 for plantation workers, P235 for non-plantation workers, P240 for retail/service establishments employing not more than 10 workers and P234 for retail/service establishments employing less than 10 people.

Floods submerge 2 GenSan villages

By. Allen Estabillo


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Feb. 13 (PNA) – Hundreds of houses in two villages here were submerged in flood waters as another major waterway swelled anew over the weekend due to heavy rains during the last two days.

Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio said Monday significant portions of Barangays Lagao and Baluan here have remained flooded due to the impounding of huge volumes of flood waters from the nearby Kalaja River.

Citing their initial assessment, she said the floods already affected 630 families that were situated in low-lying areas of the two villages.

“The flood waters reached waist-deep in some areas but there has been no evacuation as the affected residents decided to just remain in their areas,” the mayor said.

Custodio said the flood waters from Kalaja River started to swell toward the area on Sunday following almost 10 hours of heavy rains as triggered by a passing Low Pressure Area.

She said the river’s waters, which drain towards the Buayan Creek and end up in the Sarangani Bay, failed to follow its normal course due to some barriers clogging portions of the waterway and the high tide in the bay.

The mayor said she has dispatched personnel from the city’s social welfare, agriculture, veterinary and engineering offices to assess the damage wrought by the floods, especially on properties and agricultural crops.

Custodio said personnel from the National Irrigation Administration and the Department of Agriculture proceeded to the area to look into the situation.

The City Engineering Office has initially deployed a backhoe in nearby Barangay Bula to relieve the clogged portions of the river’s outlet, she said.

“We also provided relief goods to the affected residents and we’re looking at releasing additional assistance to those whose houses were damaged by the floods,” said Custodio, who supervised the relief operations in the area on Monday morning.

Aside from the declogging operations and the implementation of other remedial measures, Custodio said the city government is currently studying the possibility of restoring the closed portions of the original waterway or outlet of Kalaja River to end the perennial flooding in the area.

She said the river’s normal flow towards its outlet had been altered these past years due to developments within the private properties that it traversed.

Some property owners reportedly closed down portions of the river’s natural waterway to give way to some land developments, she said.

“We will be seeking the assistance of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for the tracing of the river’s natural waterways and eventually for their restoration,” Custodio said.

The mayor said the local government would also seek the removal from private ownership of lands covered by the river’s original waterway noting that they should not be covered by land titles.

“We really have no choice but to free up the closed portions of the river’s natural waterway or the flooding will only worsen,” Custodio added. (PNA) LAP/FFC/AVE

EU urges speedy forging of Mindanao peace deal

By. positivenewsmedia.com


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Feb. 12 (PNA) – While calling for the speedy forging of a final peace agreement, ambassadors from the European Union have reiterated their support to the Mindanao peace process, wherein the regional bloc currently provides P180 million in grants. EU Head of Delegation Guy Ledoux and ambassadors Wilhelm Donko of Austria, Jorge Domecq of Spain and Stephen Lillie of the United Kingdom came to Cotabato City Wednesday to voice anew the bloc’s support to the peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. “Our visit to Mindanao demonstrates the EU’s strong support for the Mindanao peace process. A peaceful settlement to the conflict is essential for the Philippines’ economic and social development, and we commend the GPH and MILF panels on their efforts so far,” Ledoux said in a statement. The EU is currently providing P180 million in grants under its Instrument for Stability which supports the International Monitoring Team (IMT), as well as local and international NGOs involved in both the civilian protection component of the IMT and the International Contact Group. This grant funding is a reiteration of the European Union’s commitment to peace- making and peace-building through mediation, dialogue and reconciliation, to improve the response to conflict-affected populations’ humanitarian needs and enhance the respect for their humanitarian and human rights, the statement said. Overall, the EU and its member states are one of the largest contributors in the peace-building efforts in Mindanao and the single largest contributor to the Mindanao Trust Fund with a contribution of P490 million. The EU is aware that once a peace agreement is signed many challenges will still remain to ensure that peace in Mindanao is lasting, the statement said. “Issues such as the rule of law and governance will become central in the post-agreement period. Addressing them will require strong and capable leadership from all those concerned,” it added. The visiting EU team urged the parties to intensify their negotiations to reach a settlement at the earliest possible moment. The EU believes that the timing is right for a decisive push towards an agreement and that such an opportunity must not be missed. In support of efforts to achieve peace, the European Union will continue to address the development needs of Mindanao, to which it has already channeled P9 billion since the 1990s., the statement said. The EU delegates reminded the parties that the conflict has an enormous cost on the region and that economic development will only be possible with peace.(PNA) LAP/AVE/RSS

R-12 police office launches e-blotter

By. Allen V. Estabillo


GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/10 February) – The Police Regional Office (PRO) 12 has launched this week the region-wide rollout of the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) computerized crime incident reporting system or the e-blotter. Chief Supt. Benjardi Mantele, Region 12 police director, said Friday they are currently deploying the e-blotter software in various police stations and offices as part of the full implementation of the new system in the region. Region 12 covers the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, North Cotabato and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato. “The installation and testing (of the e-blotter software) in our police stations are presently ongoing and we’re expecting the full use of this system by all of our police units before the end of the month,” the official said. Mantele and other top police officials in the region initially launched the e-blotter system in a simple ceremony held at the the PRO 12 headquarters here last Wednesday. The launching activity, which was highlighted by the testing of the software, was witnessed by Chief Supt. Alex Paul Monteagudo, deputy director of the PNP’s Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management. Mantele said the implementation of the e-blotter system will mainly improve the administrative and management operations of local police stations in the area. He cited that the e-blotter system would help make reporting and response to crime incidents in the region faster and more efficient. He said it would also assist local police units in drawing up more efficient security and public safety strategies, especially on the deployment of police personnel. “This new management tool will simplify the gathering and organization of information handled by our police stations and also provide instant, accurate and tamper-free crime statistics,” Mantele said. The e-blotter system, which was developed by the PNP’s DIDM and the Information Technology Management Service, was designed as a stand-alone system that would be installed in all police stations as a means of reporting and monitoring all crime incidents as well as the results and records of investigation. “It does not only facilitate crime documentation and modernize data storage but also presents quick, fast and reliable transmission of crime information from police stations to the PNP headquarters at Camp Crame,” a project briefer said. It said the main goal of the project, which was adopted as a priority by PNP Director General Nicanor Bartolome, is to generate a daily update of events or happenings on the ground, particularly in every police station in the country. (Allen V. Estabillo/MindaNews)

GenSan to launch crackdown vs ‘colorum’ PUVs

By. (PNA)

FFC/AVE


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Feb. 10 (PNA) – The city government is set to launch a massive crackdown against unregistered or “colorum” public utility vehicles (PUVs) as it intensifies the implementation of public transportation and traffic regulations in the area.

Glenvil Gonzales, assistant city administrator, said Friday they will deploy enforcement teams starting Feb. 16 in various key points in the city to properly monitor the movements of private or “green-plated” vehicles that have been plying the regular PUV routes.

He said the crackdown will focus on the “colorum” tricycles, jeepneys, multicabs, passenger vans and even single motorcycles, which are locally known as “habal-habal.”

City officials earlier estimated that around 8,000 tricycles have been operating on a daily basis in various routes in the area.

But such figure was two-folds more than the actual number of tricycle franchises that have been issued by the city’s Motorized Transport Franchising and Regulatory Board.

“We already complaints of numerous complaints about the proliferation of these colorum PUVs, which were giving undue competition to the legitimate operators and drivers,” he said.

Gonzales said they decided to launch the crackdown to protect local commuters as well as the legitimate PUV operators and drivers.

He said the colorum PUVs are not covered by insurance and their passengers face the risk of not getting any compensation or financial help in case of accidents.

The official said they have tapped the city’s traffic control division personnel to spearhead the crackdown, which will be launched in coordination with the city district office of the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

Aside from running after the colorum vehicles, he said the enforcement teams will also implement the “no helmet, no travel policy” and other traffic regulations.

He said they will check private motorcycles for possible violations such as the improper placement of license plates, expired registrations and use of ill-standard exhaust pipes.

Gonzales acknowledged that the upcoming campaign might affect the livelihood of some drivers and operators but he stressed that the local government was mandated by law to properly implement the government’s traffic and public transport regulations and policies.

“We can’t simply tolerate the operations of these colorum vehicles at the expense of the legitimate ones who have properly applied for franchises or permits and paid their due tax to the city government,” he added.

84 complete SHEEP-CLP’s AutoCAD Training in Gensan

By. Pops Gumana-Fruylan


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Feb. 9 (PIA) -- A total of 84 individuals from General Santos City who underwent Basic AutoCAD Software Training in January this year received from Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio their certificates of completion under the SHEEP (Shelter, Health, Education, Environment and Peace and Order) Computer Literacy Program (CLP) of the city government.

SHEEP-CLP head, Percival Pasuelo said the graduates included public secondary school teachers, information communication and technology (ICT) coordinators, job order (JO) government workers, and technical-vocational (tech-voc) and drafting teachers who were trained to document, draft, and design using the computer.

Pasuelo said the city government offered the training for free to empower public institutions especially students in public elementary and high school with the knowledge and skills in information technology without monetary counterpart.

“For AutoCad training few sessions of this could actually cost each participant thousands of pesos, but under the SHEEP-CLP we trained teachers and ICT coordinators on how to use this software for free so they can also pass the same knowledge to their students,” he explained.

Pasuelo said the autoCAD training is part of Mayor Custodio’s “series of level-up trainings under the SHEEP-CLP in preparing the teachers and students to be competitive globally.”

Earlier, Media Affairs Officer, Avel Manansala disclosed that the SHEEP-CLP is one of the major development thrusts of the present administration to prepare the city for effective domestic and global engagements, as envisioned by former Mayor Adelbert Antonino.

Meanwhile, Pasuelo revealed that another autocad training will be conducted this summer to public high school students who are decided to take architecture course in college.

He encouraged concerned students to grab the opportunity to utilize and maximize the power of ICT to shape their future.

“We urged the students to stay away from useless hobby this summer and instead be productive by enrolling in the said training to equip them with the right knowledge before they go to college,” he added. (PGFruylan/PIA-Gensan)

South Cotabato seeks P68.2-M tax settlement deal with power coop

By. PNA/PIA9-ZBST


GENERAL SANTOS CITY – The provincial government of South Cotabato is pushing for the signing of a settlement agreement worth P68.2 million for the unpaid real property taxes of local power distribution utility South Cotabato I Electric Cooperative (Socoteco I).

South Cotabato Gov. Arthur Pingoy Jr. said the local government has formally notified the power cooperative that it would collect within this year its unpaid taxes that accumulated since 1998.

He said the unpaid tax dues covered the basic and special education fund payments amounting to P41.2 million and penalties reaching a total of P27 million.

Socoteco I submitted a proposal to the provincial government late last year, seeking for the forging of a compromise deal that would save the cooperative from paying the accumulated penalties.

It signified to make a one-time payment of P41,271,295.48 to the provincial government as settlement for its tax dues.

Pingoy immediately submitted the proposed compromise deal to the Provincial Legal Office and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for further studies and the issuance of appropriate endorsements.

But board member Ervin Luntao, chair of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s ways and means committee, said they deferred the issuance of an authority for the provincial governor to sign the compromise deal on behalf of the local government.

Section 178 of the province’s Revenue Code of 2005 provides a legal basis for both Socoteco I and the provincial government to enter into a compromised deal but section 276 of the Local Government Code that sets the condonation or reduction of real property taxes and interests does not apply to the cooperative’s proposal.

“The proposal will be beneficial to us since it will generate additional funds to the provincial government. But we can’t act on it because it has no legal basis,” Luntao said.

The official said they are banking on the payment of Socoteco’s tax dues to ease the impact of the reduction by P36 million this year of the provincial government’s internal revenue share from the national government.

Maguindanao gears for Sagayan Festival; alert status up

By. (PNA)

LAP/LAM/AVE/RSS


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Feb. 7 (PNA) - A tourism spectacle conceptualized to help bring about peace and progress in this province notorious for its chaotic past will sizzle here starting Friday, with the area’s security raised to red alert beginning Tuesday.

Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu, flanked by military and police officials, held on Monday a press launching of the Sagayan Festival in Buluan town, with the hope that “all bad things about the province would buried be into oblivion.”

“We want to showcase the hidden tradition and joys in Maguindanao,” he said, lamenting that his province has been known more for violence than anything, apparently referring to the infamous massacre on November 23, 2009 and the Moro rebellion.

By staging the Sagayan Festival, Mangudadatu said they hope this will foster unity among the people to further quest for lasting peace in the area, a known stronghold of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

He said they will be inviting representatives of the MILF to the Sagayan Festival so the front “would feel the importance of unity in the quest for peace.”

Also, the province government expects to attract domestic and foreign investments to Maguindanao through the festival, the governor said.

Sagayan is a dance of nobility, gallantry and honor. The festival’s theme is “Blending of Rich Culture and Traditions among Maguindanaoans as a Road to Peace.”

According to a project brief, it is shared by both the Maguindanaon and Maranao, and depicts fierce warriors carrying a shield called “klung” elaborately painted with curlicues, rounds, twirls and adorned with mirrors which are attached with shell noisemakers. In their other hand, they carry a double-bladed sword of metal or wood.

Racquel Magalona, Sagayan Festival chairperson, said there are two kinds of Sagayan, the dalkat and delna.

The province is celebrating Sagayan Dalkat, which is a native exhibition performed in festive occasions through dances and sounds, she said, noting that delna, a ritual healing of a sick person, “is against Islam.”

She said that apart from native dance exhibitions, there will be a "kanduli" (grand thanksgiving), trade fairs, and a carabao race, among others.

For one week, expect stricter security arrangement in this town, police and military officials meanwhile said.

“We will place the entire province in red alert status starting Tuesday,” said Supt. Marcelo Pintac, the provincial police director, adding that a Task Group Sagayan has been created jointly with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Pintac added that they will start observing a 24-hour security check until the end of the festival, in which bomb experts will be on standby in case there are bomb threats.

South Cotabato seeks P68.2-M tax settlement deal with power coop

By. (PNA)

DCT/FFC/AVE/HST


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Feb. 6 (PNA) -– The provincial government of South Cotabato is pushing for the signing of a settlement agreement worth P68.2 million for the unpaid real property taxes of local power distribution utility South Cotabato I Electric Cooperative (Socoteco I).

South Cotabato Gov. Arthur Pingoy Jr. said the local government has formally notified the power cooperative that it would collect within this year its unpaid taxes that accumulated since 1998.

He said the unpaid tax dues covered the basic and special education fund payments amounting to P41.2 million and penalties reaching a total of P27 million.

Socoteco I submitted a proposal to the provincial government late last year, seeking for the forging of a compromise deal that would save the cooperative from paying the accumulated penalties.

It signified to make a one-time payment of P41,271,295.48 to the provincial government as settlement for its tax dues.

Pingoy immediately submitted the proposed compromise deal to the Provincial Legal Office and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for further studies and the issuance of appropriate endorsements.

But board member Ervin Luntao, chair of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s ways and means committee, said they deferred the issuance of an authority for the provincial governor to sign the compromise deal on behalf of the local government.

Section 178 of the province’s Revenue Code of 2005 provides a legal basis for both Socoteco I and the provincial government to enter into a compromised deal but section 276 of the Local Government Code that sets the condonation or reduction of real property taxes and interests does not apply to the cooperative’s proposal.

“The proposal will be beneficial to us since it will generate additional funds to the provincial government. But we can’t act on it because it has no legal basis,” Luntao said.

The official said they are banking on the payment of Socoteco’s tax dues to ease the impact of the reduction by P36 million this year of the provincial government’s internal revenue share from the national government.

RDRRMC-12 undertakes review of Crisis Manual for Disasters

By. Catherine T. Apelacio


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, South Cotabato, Feb. 5 (PIA) -- The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) here has met with its technical working group (TWG) over the weekend to review and discuss the Crisis Manual for Natural Disasters.

The RDRRMC chaired by the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) 12 underscored the importance of reviewing the manual with the TWG in order to come up with a comprehensive regional version of the draft.

The council has sought the existing standard operating procedures (SOPs) or protocols of the different member-agencies for submission to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

Roy Dorado, OCD-12 assistant regional director for operations presented the draft manual emphasizing that SOPs already practiced by different member-agencies will form part of the regional version.

The SOPs are those undertaken by response agencies immediately within the 72 hours during disasters.

Among those who presented their SOPs were the Philippine Army 1002 Brigade, the Philippine Army 512ECB, 52nd Engineering Brigade, the Philippine Coast Guard, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Department of Agriculture, Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Philippine Information Agency.

Dorado also said under Republic Act 10121 otherwise known as “An act strengthening the Philippine disaster risk reduction and management system, providing for the national disaster risk reduction and management framework and institutionalizing the national disaster risk reduction and management plan,” the local DRRM office can enforce the evacuation of residents living in hazard-prone areas in times of disaster upon the approval of the council.

Leo Chong, chief of Health Emergency Management Staff of DOH-12, in his presentation, cited the importance of defining to what extent and levels of coordination a member agency of the council can offer.

Meanwhile, Jerome Barranco, OCD-12 assistant regional director for administration, who took note of the issues and concerns such as “who takes command and control during disaster and who should be the agency authorized to give information during disasters,” said the Council would resolve these as soon as possible.

Earlier in the meeting, the DILG-12 representative said the agency has already issued a directive to all barangays in the region that in time of disasters “they can give an early warning sign” to all residents at risk.

The Crisis Manual was born out of the directives issued by President Benigno S. Aquino III to the NDRRMC in December last year in the wake of Typoon Sendong that caused the loss of many lives and huge damage to the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan.

The President’s directives are to issue warning advisories at least three days in advance, to move and transfer assets, including military response capabilities before the warning whenever a typhoon will affect communities at risk and to formulate a Crisis Manual for Natural Disasters.

Dorado also announced that OCD-12 would be spearheading this year a conference-seminar for local chief executives in the region on the utilization of five-percent calamity fund. (CTA/PIA General Santos City)

News Feature: GenSan’s 2012 Kalilangan Festival takes off February 10

By. Chris Sulit & CT Apelacio


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Feb 4 (PIA) - Let’s go! Mag-Kalilangan Tayo!

With this welcome tagline, all is set for the 16th Kalilangan Festival and the 73rd Foundation Anniversary celebration, according to Festival Director Mimi Abiera.

She said this year’s celebration highlights the convergence of tri-people who have lived in co-existence with one another in this area.

With the theme, "Convergence in Divergence: Enriching Heritage, Bridging Cultures" this year’s celebration is all geared up to give more fun and entertainment out of the culture and heritage the city offers.

At a press conference Thursday (Feb 2), Festival Director Mimi Abiera presented the activities and the highlights which focus mainly on the cultural diversity in this area as represented by tri-people---the Indigenous Peoples (IPs), Muslims and the Christians. The organizers also took pride of the event as it’s not only a showcase of heritage and culture but also a venue for fostering mutual respect for each diverse belief and value.

A soft opening will be held as early as February 10 at the Oval grounds with agri fair, mini zoo, plaza bazaar, good galore and carnival rides to serve as opening salvo.

Institutional events like the Grand Opening ceremony is slated on February 21, the Cultural Night ("Lambigitan") on the 23rd and the Closing or Salubungan on February 27.


On the festival day's finale, contingents from all over GenSan will show their dancing prowess in Kadsagayan or Street Dancing challenge for the biggest prizes at stake.


The Kalilangan has also its annual favorites which are crowd drawers because of their uniqueness and sheer attraction to the public.


The ethnic sports competition "Laro Ng Lahi" will again hook the audience in the traditional games, namely: Kadang Marathon, Sack Race, Patintero, Palosebo, Tug of War, Sungka, Skipping Rope, Tabanug (kite-flying) and the board game Dama.


The Cosplay, short for Costume Playing is a new breed of excitement for the young and the techno-savvy, but this time, it is the Pinoy heroes who shall take the center stage, not the foreign ones.


For 17 days, the people of GenSan will be a witness to song, dance and theatrical presentations, sports tournaments, visual art exhibits,

agricultural exposures, free seminars, cookfest, animal shows, gadgets demo, fun run and parties. (CPIO/PIA General Santos City)

CENRO-Gensan underscores importance of forest restoration in climate change issue

By. Pops Gumana-Fruylan


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Feb 3 (PIA) – City Environment and Natural Resources Officer (CENRO) Valiente Lastimoso recently underscored the importance of reforestation as a significant strategy to address climate change.

Lastimoso disclosed the different strategies available to mitigate carbon emission through forestry activities and one of these is to increase the amount of forested land by planting more trees especially to depleted areas in the city.

“Forest restoration could reverse the impact of forest clearing over the past three centuries and the same time expand wildlife habitat, provide recreational opportunities, and uplift socio-economic conditions of the upland, lowland, urban, and coastal inhabitants of the city,” he explained.

To encourage community involvement, CENRO has implemented the Integrated Social Forestry Program (ISFP) which is designed to rehabilitate the denuded forestland in the city by adopting an “agro-forestry approach.”

Lastimoso said they have tapped the participation of organized ISF associations in the seven upland barangays of Gensan where qualified organizations received “stewardship contract” for the use of public lands to “augment the income of upland communities and as a source of sustainable livelihood.”

The seven upland barangays include Upper Labay, Conel, Olympog, Sinawal, Bawing, San Jose, and Mabuhay.

“The contract stated that 20 percent of the total area should be devoted for reforestation while 80 percent will be planted with cash crops like corn, palay, and other products,” he said.

Meanwhile, the city environment officer revealed a total of 805.76 hectares of forest land rehabilitated for 2011.

Since 1997, he said, critical upland areas are now reforested and rehabilitated by at least 61 percent or 2,861.76 hectares of the 4,699.03 hectares total ISF area.

“Forest restoration is only one piece of the puzzle in addressing climate change issue, but at CENRO we believe it is an important piece. With the help of our stakeholders, we can make a difference,” he said. (PGFruylan/PIA-Gensan)

CENRO-Gensan intensifies rehabilitation of coastal communities

By. Pops Gumana-Fruylan


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Feb. 1 (PIA)—The City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) here has focused more efforts in the rehabilitation of the nine coastal barangays of the city to cope with climate change.

CENR Officer Valiente Lastimoso said they have tapped coastal community organizations to aid them in the implementation of various coastal resource management programs to increase community awareness of coastal ecosystem values and services.

One of the vital programs, Lastimoso explained is the massive and continuous planting of mangroves along the shorelines of Sarangani Bay particularly within the vicinity of the nine coastal barangays.

He revealed that since 1997 the city environment office has rehabilitated a total of 23.61 hectares of coastal wetlands and planted 236, 116 seedlings of mangroves.

“To date, we have already reached a 100 percent level of awareness on the importance of mangroves among the coastal communities,” he said.

Lastimoso also underscored the significant role of mangroves in the protection of shorelines against erosion and as valuable nursery areas for fish and invertebrates.

He said mangroves are important to minimize the effects of global warming as they possess the ability to absorb pollution by maintaining water quality and clarity, filtering pollutants, and trapping sediments originating from land.

Meanwhile, Lastimoso disclosed other interventions of the agency like the “Wildlife Survey and Assessment within the Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape” where they recorded the presence of whales and dolphins; and the drafted Barangay Ordinance on the Protection and Conservation of Coral Reef in Barangay Bula.

He also mentioned other environmental activities conducted to raise awareness on the importance of conserving the environment and mitigate the effects of climate change such as the World Wetlands Day every month of March, Earth Day on April, Ocean Month on May, Environment Month on June, and the International Coastal Clean-up Day every month of September.

The nine coastal barangays of Gensan include Barangays Siguel, Tambler, Calumpang, Labangal, Dadiangas West, Dadiangs South, Bula, Buayan, and Baluan. (PGFruylan/PIA-Gensan)


General Santos City, Philippines Archived News

The older news reports are kept here.

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