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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.

Red Cross Village building starts

by (Christmei Joy Ranido/lvgabule/PIA 10-LDN)


ILIGAN CITY, Lanao del Norte, May 11 (PIA) -- The construction of 385 houses for Typhoon Sendong survivors at the site called “Digkilaan Red Cross Village” has started after the groundbreaking ceremony last May 8, in Barangay Digkilaan, Iligan City.

The occasion was led by Iligan Mayor Lawrence Ll. Cruz and City Vice Mayor and Philippine Red Cross Governor Henry Dy and authorities from the Red Cross and Red Cross Movement from other countries.

The relocation site is a three-hectare lot situated at Purok Narra of the said barangay and is owned by the city government.

The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Iligan had earlier given Mayor Cruz the authority to sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on usufruct so that the property can be used to build the houses donated by the Red Cross from different parts of the country.

Donors of the houses of the village include Australian Aid and Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers.

Among those who helped in the realization of the project are the Department of Public Works and Highways-Lanao Engineering District 2, on the site development, and the National Housing Authority for the subdivision plan.






Construction of Red Cross Village shelter building starts

by ( Christmei Joy Ranido/lvgabule/PIA 10-LDN)


ILIGAN CITY, Lanao del Norte, May 10 (PIA) -- The construction of 385 houses for Sendong survivors at the site called “Digkilaan Red Cross Village” has started after the groundbreaking ceremony last May 8 in Barangay Digkilaan, Iligan City.

The occasion was led by Iligan Mayor Lawrence Ll. Cruz and City Vice Mayor and Philippine Red Cross Governor Henry Dy, and authorities from the Red Cross and Red Cross Movement from other countries.

The relocation site is a three-hectare lot situated at Purok Narra of the said Barangay and is owned by the city government.

The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Iligan had earlier given Mayor Cruz authority to sign a memorandum of agreement on usufruct, so that the property can be used to build the houses donated by the Red Cross from different parts of the country.

Donors of the houses of the village include Australian Aid and Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers.

Among those who helped in the realization of the project are the Department of Public Works and Highways-Lanao Engineering District 2, on the site development, and the National Housing Authority for the subdivision plan.

Lanao Norte conducts Community-Based Monitoring System survey

by Lovely A. Rosario


TUBOD, Lanao del Norte, May 9 -- To get an accurate picture of the real state of this fast-rising province, the provincial government allocated P 6 million for the second round of the Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) household census.

The census covers all of Lanao del Norte’s 22 municipalities and will measure the number of persons per household, their educational attainment and level of literacy, nutrition and sanitation, agricultural products, sources of income, and governmental services availed.

The data-gathering activity is conducted by the Provincial Planning and Development Office in coordination with the Office of the Provincial Community Affairs and Provincial Information Office.

Last April 13 to 30, more than 500 enumerators and 47 supervisors were trained for the two-month implementation of the census. The supervising team expects to finish the data-gathering stage on June 2012.

The CBMS survey is the primary source of statistical data by the national government to guide its formulation and implementation of social programs and policies particularly its poverty alleviation projects.

The province-wide survey is conducted once every three years, and results aid the provincial leaders in fine-tuning its anti-poverty programs and delivery of healthcare services.

Accredited enumerators are given an allowance of P25 per household surveyed while the supervisors are given P12.50 per edited form plus an incentive of P1,000 for every completed barangay.

Another round of CBMS census is expected to be conducted by year 2015. (Lovely A. Rosario-PIO/LDN-PIA10)

Anti-RH bill group hopes to join opposition to measure in House

by Jocelyn R. Uy


A group of anti-reproductive health (RH) bill advocates is seeking accreditation from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in an effort to win seats in the House of Representatives, where the controversial family planning measure is pending. The group is running under the party-list name Ang ProLife and is composed of members of the laity hoping to join the opposition to the RH bill in Congress, according to Fr. Melvin Castro, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops Episcopal Commission on Family and Life. “It’s a laity initiative… they don’t need the approval of priests or bishops for that,” said Castro in an interview with reporters. Castro said he was hoping the Comelec would give the group the green light to run under the party-list system in the May 2013 elections so the Catholic Church would gain another ally in Congress. A similar party-list group, the El Shaddai-backed Buhay Hayaan Yumabong (Buhay), has won seats in Congress in the past three elections. The top vote-getter in the 2007 elections, Buhay advocates for the promotion of the value of human life and the family through governance and education. “We want the prolife movement to have a louder voice in Congress. At present, we have many party-list groups but most of them are pro-RH bill,” said Castro. Gabriela and Akbayan are among the party-list groups pushing for passage of the RH bill, which the Catholic Church is staunchly opposed to because of its “anti-life” provisions. Ang ProLife, with lawyer James Imbong listed as its secretary general, filed its petition in the Comelec on March 31. “In their application for party-list accreditation, they noted that their purpose is mainly to protect the family and life. They don’t only represent the pro-life movement but families as well,” said Castro, adding that the faithful should support groups advocating for the protection of life and family values. Meanwhile, several Catholic youth groups on Monday assured at least nine lawmakers of their votes should they run in next year’s elections. “As of now, we would support nine young legislators who are basically the vanguards against the RH bill,” said Peter Pardo of the National Capital Region Youth Ministry at a press briefing at the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines office in Intramuros, Manila. He identified the legislators as Davao Representative Karlo Nograles, Quirino Rep. Dakila Cua, Cebu Rep. Rachel del Mar, Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez, Lanao del Norte Rep. Aliah Dimaporo, Buhay party-list Representatives Michael Velarde and Irwin Tieng and Cebu Rep. Gabriel Quisumbing. Other youth groups that promised their support for the lawmakers included the Federation of National Youth Organizations, Youth Pinoy!, CFC Youth for Christ and Singles for Christ, and the Columbian Squires and UP for Life.

UFS, WFP join hands to boost school meals

by businessmirror.com.ph


Through its innovative “Sandwich Heroes” campaign, Unilever Food Solutions, a subsidiary of Unilever, has raised Php 400,000 in the Philippines for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). The donation will allow WFP to feed 40,000 children under its school meals programme in conflict-affected areas of Central Mindanao, particularly in Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte.

“We are very grateful to Unilever for its longstanding partnership with WFP in the Philippines, including its latest creative efforts to help raise awareness of the issue of hunger in the country,” said WFP Philippines Representative and Country Director Stephen Anderson.

“The funds Unilever has donated will help WFP and its government counterparts, the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Education, provide hot nutritious meals for children in remote, conflict-affected areas.”

Thirteen restaurants took part in Unilever Food Solution’s pioneering project, which involved each restaurant offering their signature or best sandwiches for the campaign. Unilever Food Solutions made a donation to WFP for each featured sandwich sold from October 2011 to January 2012.

Bigg’s Diner, Cibo, The Coffee Experience, CoffeeBreak, Figaro, HotShots, JD Bakeshop, KFC, Mushroomburger, The Flying Pig, Holy Cow, The Sandwich Guy and Wham! Burgers all participated in the campaign.

“We’d like to thank our partner establishments for making our ‘Sandwich Heroes’ initiative a great success. We’re very proud to help feed 40,000 children in Central Mindanao,” said Unilever Food Solutions Managing Director Pinky Laurena.

“While this is just a pilot programme, what we already achieved here in the Philippines has caught the attention of other Unilever offices globally. Now, the Philippines effort has become an example for other countries to emulate, so we’re planning to expand this ‘Sandwich Heroes’ campaign this year,” she added.

Unilever has contributed to WFP and its fight against hunger in the Philippines since 2008. Globally, Unilever has been a WFP corporate partner since December 2006, donating a total of US$17.7 million to support WFP’s work around the world.

Gov’t gives assistance to families with missing persons due to Sendong

by (EOR/Melvin T. Anggot and Virgilio C. Garcia-CIO/PIA10)


ILIGAN CITY, Lanao del Norte, May 6 (PIA) -- The Office of the Civil Defense in Northern Mindanao (OCD)-10 revealed that it will give financial assistance to those injured and families with missing persons due to tropical storm Sendong.

OCD-10 Regional Director Anna Cañeda said that P5 million assistance had been appropriated for the injured and P12 million for families with missing persons in the said calamity.

Cañeda clarified that injured persons-claimants must have been confined in a hospital at least for three days and the confinement must be caused by flood-related brought by Sendong such as Leptospirosis.

She said the agency will need the validated report of the local government units and endorsement from the mayor of names of missing persons as bases in the release of financial assistance.

Also needed is the validated police report that will certify that a person is really missing because of the flood and not hiding and pretend to be missing because of a crime.

Cañeda confirmed that a special authority from their agency would follow the guidelines of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) that will issue a certification that a person is ‘presumed dead’ due to the calamity.

Anti-Poverty Plan Benefits Lanao

by mb.com.ph


TUBOD, Lanao del Norte – The government’s flagship poverty-alleviation program, the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDDS) and Makamasang Tugon expanded projects will now benefit six towns in Lanao del Norte, it was learned yesterday.

The six municipalities are Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Poona Piagapo, Tagoloan, Matungao, Magsaysay and Tangcal. The projects are set to begin after a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed last Wednesday during a launching ceremony at the Mindanao Civic Center (MCC) Function Hall here.

The event was attended by Lanao del Norte Gov. Mohamad Khalid Q. Dimaporo; Assistant Re¬gional Director Aldersey Mumar Dela Cruz, DSWD-10; Regional Di¬rector Rene Burdeos, Department of the Interior and Local Govern¬ment (DILG)-10; and local chief Executives from the six municipalities of the province.

“We always welcome a good challenge. DSWD is basically looking into poverty rate, project imple¬mentation and good leadership. In Lanao del Norte, we have a good track record in implementing our projects,” Dimaporo said.

More than P57 million has been earmarked by DSWD for the identified projects.

Among the projects to be implemented by the barangay officials and volunteers are drainage systems, day care centers, barangay health centers, barangay roads, so¬lar driers and water systems.

“We are very thankful for the strong representation of Congresswoman Imelda Dimaporo and for the solid support of Governor Dimaporo. Without their help we could not have availed of this im¬portant program from national government,” Matungao Mayor Jaber Azis said.

Matungao interior town will soon be implementing various projects totaling to P6 million.

The KALAHI-CIDSS and Makamasang

Tugon are the Philippine government’s flagship poverty-alleviation projects.

Iligan City, Firefly to sponsor summer basketball tournament

by (EOR/Melvin T. Anggot and Virgilio C. Garcia-CIO,PIA-10)


ILIGAN CITY, Lanao del Norte, May 4 (PIA) -- Firefly Electric and Lighting Corp. and the city government of Iligan through the office of City Councilor Freddie Siao and City Sports Commission are sponsoring a summer basketball tournament.

It was learned from Councilor Siao that the tournament will come in three categories – 15 under, 18 under and 25 under. The chairman on the Commission on Sports of the city council said this is limited to eight (8) teams that will be accepted in each category.

The registration is only until May 4 at the office of Councilor Siao at the second floor of the Legislative Building at city hall. There is a registration fee of P1,000 for the first category, P2,000 for the second category and P2,500 for the third category.

The tournament will start on May 7, 2012.

It maybe recalled that the firm Firefly Electric has been co-sponsoring this event with the city of Iligan since the first term of Mayor Lawrence Ll. Cruz.

House to probe sacking of Batangas cops

by Cynthia D. Balana


The House of Representatives will invite Philippine National Police Director General Nicanor Bartolome to shed light on the relief of the entire Batangas PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Team (CIDT) for alleged involvement in nefarious activities. Lanao del Norte Representative Vicente Belmonte, chairman of the committee on dangerous drugs, said the panel would extend an invitation to the PNP and other parties concerned as soon as Congress resumes sessions next week. Several CIDG agents cried foul over their relief for their alleged involvement in “hulidap” and kidnapping cases. “We need to know the details before we can define if there’s a need for an investigation in aid of legislation,” said Belmonte in a text message. Bartolome reassigned the entire Batangas CIDT under Chief Inspector Jay Agcaoili to the Police Holding and Administrative Unit in Camp Crame, Quezon City, to ensure their presence in the investigation. Last week, Bartolome ordered Calabarzon regional director Chief Superintendent James Melad and Intelligence Group director Chief Superintendent Charles Calima Jr. to look into reports that Batangas CIDT personnel had negotiated with the family of alleged drug offender Christina Rodriguez for her freedom in exchange for P1 million

New study shows Mindanao challenges

by Lila Ramos Shahani


Over the past 12 years, cycles of violent conflict in Central Mindanao have displaced nearly a million people from their homes.

In October 2011, thousands of families had to leave their homes yet again when fighting escalated in parts of Zamboanga Sibugay and Basilan. Currently, several thousand people across Mindanao remain displaced, particularly in Maguindanao.

These disrupted lives present major challenges to both government and affected families, particularly since these displaced individuals do not always return to their own homes, a recent study by the WB and the WFP revealed.

It found displacement to be detrimental to livelihoods, social cohesion and welfare across virtually every key indicator: food security, access to basic services, income poverty and housing.

The survey, launched by the Human Development and Poverty Reduction Cabinet Cluster (HDPRCC) last Friday, was conducted during the last quarter of 2010.

A total of 2,759 randomly-selected households from a total of 231 barangays across 5 provinces — Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), as well as Lanao del Norte, North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat — were interviewed.

Families displaced by conflict

The study, "Violent Conflicts and Displacement in Central Mindanao: Challenges for Recovery and Development, " revealed that 4 in every 10 households in the surveyed areas experienced displacement from 2000-2010, with 1 in 5 displaced 2 or more times, and 1 in 10 forced to leave their homes up to 5 times during this period.

The long-term effects of conflicts have been destructive indeed: they have repressed the growth of investments while diluting government resources needed for development, basic services and human capital.

But government firmly believes that war is not a solution to this long-term historical problem, and that much can ultimately be resolved by addressing the deeper problems of poverty and underdevelopment.

Inequality has been a primary reason for the insurgency’s continuation through so many generations: certainly, the human development index in ARMM is arguably the worst in the entire country, part of a legacy of decades of armed struggle.

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary and HDPRCC head Dinky Soliman welcomed the report's "important insights on the inter-related dimensions of conflict, displacement and economic growth" in Central Mindanao.

"The data provides a basis to allow the relevant departments in government and other development partners to offer targeted recovery and render extensive development support in affected areas, especially the most vulnerable households," she said.

In a statement read by Undersecretary Luis Montalbo, Secretary Ging Quintos-Deles of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) also lauded the study, finding it to be a "very relevant guide" for government’s efforts in conflict-affected communities under the current Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Peaceful and Resilient Communities or PAMANA) program.

"It is also important that interventions under PAMANA be based on detailed knowledge of livelihood opportunities and access to land, credit availability and food supply. These indicators vary from place to place," Deles noted.

World Bank Country Director Motoo Konishi said the report shed considerable light on the nature and extent of vulnerability across provinces, population categories and livelihood groups in affected areas.

"It can shape the operational choices of humanitarian, recovery and development agencies, in addition to improving outcomes for the population on the ground," he said. Konishi was represented by Mark Woodward, senior social development specialist at the World Bank.

WFP Country Director Stephen Anderson, meanwhile, said the study will help agencies like WFP "better target food assistance and help communities strengthen their resilience to conflict and natural disasters."

Not enough food

Anderson noted that "the 2 ARMM provinces in Central Mindanao – Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur – suffer the highest levels of food insecurity. This is exacerbated by high levels of exposure to shocks, such as recurrent flooding and crop disease that make people poorer and more food insecure."

The study found out that households in Central Mindanao most vulnerable to displacement have been "frequently exposed to violence."

Movements of armed military and rebel groups were cited by 29% of surveyed households as one primary cause of their displacement, while 9%blamed it on clan conflict or "rido."

Host families also felt additional pressures, resorting “to selling goods or assets to provide food and support” for the displaced people they were hosting.

Of the areas surveyed, Maguindanao accounted for the highest degree of vulnerability, with about 82 percent of all households in the area affected by displacement due not only to violent conflict but also to weather-related disasters.

These displacements represented the 2 poorest wealth quintiles, where households suffered the highest levels of food insecurity and the lowest incomes.

Money as top priority

When asked to identify their top priorities, surveyed households ranked money, employment, food, health and education, in that order. Respondents called for government attention to these basic needs, as well as the construction of roads and the need for electricity.

Respondents also identified economic development, the signing of a peace agreement, and ending impunity as critical interventions that are urgently needed.

Peace is crucial for human wellbeing, economic development and nation building. Deeper problems of poverty and underdevelopment propagate and sustain conflict -- which we therefore should be focusing on instead.

Many sources of disagreement are now generations old, no longer amenable to short-term solutions.

Peaceful resolution will now therefore require much greater give-and-take, carefully crafted policies and a great deal of goodwill on all sides.

But policies and mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of political disputes must be coupled with programs that accurately target socio-economic, political and environmental vulnerabilities.

By increasing access to services and infrastructure, these areas of conflict can potentially be transformed into peaceful and progressive communities.

In line with President Aquino's thrust for more participatory government, this publication provides a wellspring for greater dialogue and collaboration in the future. This is just the start of a creative new partnership between the Philippine government and its international partners to work towards more humanitarian conditions — and more lasting peace and development — in central Mindanao .

Lila Ramos Shahani is assistant secretary and head of communications of the Human Development and Poverty Reduction Cabinet Cluster. She is also adjunct faculty at the Center for Development Management at the Asian Institute of Management.

Training for Grade 7 teachers, subsidy for special sports program

by Tarra Quismundo

Philippine Daily Inquirer


As government prepares for the full implementation of its basic education reform program, the Department of Education is conducting training to prepare teachers for the enhanced first year high school curriculum to be introduced this school year. Education Secretary Armin Luistro said some 1,530 teachers would undergo training in teaching English, Science and Mathematics from experts at the Philippine Science High School System (PSHSS). In DepEd Memo No. 68, Luistro said the training was meant to prepare teachers for the conversion of first year high school into Grade 7 under the K to 12 (Kindergarten to Grade 12) program. The DepEd is set to introduce enhanced Grade 1 and first year high school curricula as part of the phased implementation of K to 12, the flagship education program of the administration of President Aquino designed to enhance the quality of Filipino high school graduates by extending learning by two years. The training, to be held in two phases in May and in October, is part of the PSHSS Learning Institute for Teachers upgrading program. Eligible to participate in the program are teachers of science high schools with one to five years’ work experience and those identified to be in need of improvement. “Regional directors shall see to it that divisions/schools involved in the training under this project shall cooperate and collaborate with PSHSS on all processes, which include the conduct of training and monitoring and evaluation of the impact of training,” said Luistro’s memo. Some 180 participants will be accommodated in each of the PSHSS campuses in Quezon City, Ilocos Sur, Nueva Vizcaya, Camarines Sur, Iloilo, Cebu, Leyte, Davao City and Lanao del Norte. Meanwhile, the DepEd has earmarked P8.5 million as subsidy to 17 regional schools that offer a special program in sports to develop the athletic skills of their students. Each school will get P500,000 as training subsidy. Under DepEd Order No. 28 series of 2012, the additional subsidy, which would augment the schools’ maintenance and operating expenses, would go to the training of teachers and administrators on relevant topics in sports. The money would also be used to buy instructional materials, sports supplies and athletic uniforms, and to support student development activities such as training, workshops and participation in DepEd-approved competitions. Travel allowance of students during training and competitions, as well as support for the participation of teachers in DepEd-sponsored scholarships and professional upgrading, including enrolment in master’s degree programs in sports, would also be drawn from the fund. Luistro said the subsidy would enable schools to deliver services effectively to student athletes so they would stand out in national and international competitions. The secretary said, “There is cost in developing world-class athletes and the schools are the natural breeding ground of grassroots talents.” But Luistro stressed, “Because we want to develop the whole person and not just their physical talent, we require that our athlete-beneficiaries attain a mean percentage score above the national average in the National Achievement Test.” The directive also stated that the subsidy could be suspended if schools failed to comply with the guidelines. The 17 school beneficiaries are Ilocos Norte National High School (NHS), Region I; Cagayan NHS, Region II; Victoria NHS, Region III; Lopez National Comprehensive HS, Region IV-A; Palawan National School, Region IV-B; Camarines Sur NHS, Region 5; Iloilo NHS, Region 6; Negros Oriental NHS, Region 7; Palo NHS, Region 8; Zamboanga Sibugay NHS, Region 9; Bukidnon NHS, Region 10; Santo Tomas NHS, Region 11; General Santos City NHS, Region 12; Bayugan National Comprehensive HS, Caraga; Datu Paglas NHS, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao; Tabuk NHS, Cordillera Administrative Region; and Muntinlupa Science HS, National Capital Region

PESO Iligan deploys 150 summer job students

by Lorry V. Gabule


ILIGAN CITY, Lanao del Norte, April 28 (PIA) -- The Public Employment Service Office (PESO) here in Iligan is fielding deserving students under the government’s Special Program for Employment of Student (SPES) this summer.

In tandem with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Iligan City District Office, PESO started the summer job program on April 23.

Students could avail of the 20-day period summer job until May 25, said PESO Manager Celso Fernando of Iligan.

Under Republic Act No. 7323, or the SPES Law, the local government unit, the participating partners in the program, pay 60 percent of the salaries or wages of the beneficiaries, while the DOLE pays the balance of 40 percent through education vouchers.

The city government will be paying P200 per day rate.

The SPES program, administered by the DOLE's Bureau of Local Employment, serves as a "bridging employment" program towards formal employment.

Through SPES, work appreciation program would be given, which would teach students the value of work, giving them the opportunity to earn through a short-term but gainful employment, Fernando said. (Jerrica Mahinay/lvgabule-PIA 10, LDN)

New ARMM greeted with hope, caution

by Inquirer Mindanao


ILIGAN CITY—Political leaders in Mindanao welcomed with guarded optimism the proposed new autonomous political entity that would replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). “In spirit, I see that glittering light illuminating the just agreed upon points of discussion that appear to embody the Bangsamoro aspirations of long ago,” said Vice Mayor Muslimin Sema of Cotabato City, a leader of a faction of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). He expressed support for the outcome of the negotiations between the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace panels in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday. The two sides agreed to commit to work for the creation of a political entity in place of the ARMM, among the issues in the 10-point agreement that they signed. The document embodying “10 decision points on principles” will serve as “general directions of the substantive negotiations” geared at crafting a political settlement to end over four decades of Moro rebellion in Mindanao. Unimplemented provisions Sema, however, reminded the government to attend to the unimplemented provisions of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement entered into between the MNLF of Nur Misuari and the government under then President Fidel Ramos. “Although it appears that these dormant provisions (in the GPH-MNLF peace pact) have been included in the enumerated discussion points, we might as well cross our fingers that both panels would end up signing an official peace document that the Bangsamoro people could be proud of,” Sema said. He said the new political Bangsamoro entity that would replace the ARMM should be a state within a state “where the inhabitants are truly autonomous.” Nur Misuari, leader of another MNLF faction, refused to issue a statement. But other local government leaders gave positive reactions. Zamboanga del Sur Governor Antonio Cerilles said there was nothing to be bothered about regarding the agreement. “I am sure people will be consulted,” he said. “(Chief government negotiator Marvic) Leonen is a good lawyer and he’ll make sure any peace deal will be acceptable to all sides. So we must not preempt any effort being undertaken because for sure everyone will be consulted,” Cerilles said. Proposed Moro substate The MILF’s proposed substate covers the current ARMM as the core territory. Add to this the six Lanao del Norte towns whose voters opted to be part of the regional government in 1989; and 735 adjacent barangays with predominantly Moro population, subject to the residents’ consent through a plebiscite. Last year, the government panel said the proposed territory would account for just 17 percent of Mindanao’s total area. The geographic scope of a new autonomous government for the Moro people has yet to be defined, according to Leonen. Basilan Representative Jim Hataman said if a new autonomous government was in the offing, “there will be a plebiscite on that and new laws will have to be created.” Hataman said the ultimate goal was to “achieve a peace agreement where everyone is fully consulted, not just the Muslims but also the indigenous peoples and the Christian communities.” Zamboanga Sibugay Governor Rommel Jalosjos said: “We will give our full support for as long as Sibugay is not going to be part of its substate.” But South Cotabato Governor Arthur Pingoy cautioned the government, saying the latest agreement it signed with the MILF might create trouble. “We need to know the sentiments of the people, not just of the rebel groups,” Pingoy said. Secular political unit Leonen characterized the proposed political entity as “a secular political unit existing within the Republic of the Philippines, located within its territory (and) subject to its sovereignty as a state.” The recent consensus, which was reached last December and formalized into a document last February, is the sixth time the flesh-and-bones of political autonomy are being firmed up in an effort to address the roots of the Moro rebellion. But it was only the second time for such a process to be done within the context of peace negotiations. The first was through the Tripoli Agreement of 1976 reached through a Libyan-facilitated negotiation. That time, the MNLF bowed to pressure from Muslim countries to drop its independence campaign and settle for self-governance over historically Moro-dominated areas. But the MNLF and government took 20 years to agree on the modality of implementing the 1976 pact. The original area under the Tripoli Agreement corresponded to the territory of what used to be the Moro Province plus Palawan province and its capital, Puerto Princesa City. The Moro Province was a special governance unit from 1903 to 1913, during the onset of the American colonial period, comprising the five districts of Cotabato, Davao, Lanao, Sulu and Zamboanga which are historically Moro-dominated and governed areas. In 1976, these districts became the regular provinces of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, North Cotabato, Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Davao del Sur and South Cotabato; and the cities of Iligan, Marawi, Cotabato, Dipolog, Dapitan, Zamboanga, Pagadian and General Santos. Today, two more provinces were added: Sarangani which was carved out of South Cotabato, and Zamboanga Sibugay, which previously was part of Zamboanga del Sur. There are five more cities: Isabela and Lamitan in Basilan; Kidapawan in North Cotabato; Tacurong in Sultan Kudarat; and Koronadal in South Cotabato. In a plebiscite in 1989, only the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi joined the ARMM. Cotabato City, where its seat of government is located, voted to be excluded from the regional unit. Marawi City and Basilan province, minus Lamitan City, voted to join the ARMM during a plebiscite in 2001 in a bid to expand the ARMM as part of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement between the government and the MNLF. Chief rebel negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said a century of being governed under a unitary political system had turned what used to be a predominantly Moro-populated Moro Province into the home of “minoritized” natives, who are ruled by migrants. “We also lost most of our ancestral lands… Through legalized land grabbing, only around 12 to 15 percent of our original landholdings remain in our hands, all the rest were lost forever,” Iqbal noted. No confiscatory powers But Iqbal said the MILF proposal for a comprehensive compact would not grant the future Moro self-governing entity with confiscatory powers over property. “Rather, it will recognize and respect vested property rights, although, rights obtained through fraudulent schemes will certainly be dealt with through the appropriate judicial processes,” he added. “We are only aiming to protect what remained with us now,” Iqbal said. Jesus Dureza, former presidential adviser for Mindanao, said negotiating peace was not and should not be the exclusive task of the two sides but a communal effort of all stakeholders. “It’s a virtual watershed. How to make it cascade is crucial. It’s also a road map that everyone must traverse together. How the other stakeholders will come around and converge will determine the final trajectory,” Dureza said in statement sent to the Inquirer. “Despite the euphoria it truly deserves, the framework agreement is still a long way off from the final peace agreement. But believe me, it can be done. More than ever, the government and MILF panels now need everyone’s support to make it happen,” he added. Preliminary testing Leonen said the recently signed document was a “preliminary listing of common points, which the parties have mutually identified, coming from their respective initial positions.” The MILF’s original proposal was embodied in its February 2011 Revised Comprehensive Compact, although Leonen noted several points in their discussions when the rebel group’s position had gone beyond the document. Leonen said the commitments of government spelled out in the decision points “can be properly accommodated by our current legal and political realities.” Reports from Ryan D. Rosauro, Charlie C. Señase, Julie S. Alipala and Jeoffrey Maitem, Inquirer Mindanao






Lanao Norte barangays train for disaster preparedness

by (VNL/PIO-LDN/PIA-10)


TUBOD, Lanao del Norte, April 26 -- The 78 participants from 20 barangays of the coastal town of Lala consisted the first batch to successfully complete the two-day disaster preparedness training at the Mindanao Civic Center complex.

Ten coastal towns have been identified to undergo the training starting April 24 until May 30.

The training is jointly spearheaded by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) and the Provincial Community Affairs Office.

"This is the fulfillment of Governor Khalid Dimaporo’s instruction to re-echo what we have learned at the provincial-level on disaster preparedness to the various communities in the province particularly those near the coastline,” according to PDRRMO Head Marlyn Trozo.

Among the identified municipalities are Linamon, Kauswagan, Bacolod, Maigo, Kolambugan, Tubod, Baroy, Lala, Kapatagan, and Matungao.

Each barangay will endorse five participants for the training which will discuss disaster prevention, emergency response planning, first aid, and basic life support.

Members of the revitalized Provincial Emergency Response Team will facilitate the two-day training. Successful participants in the training will be accredited by the provincial government as members of the Provincial Emergency Response Unit.

“In the future, when any of our neighboring LGUs will need our assistance, Lanao del Norte will now be better prepared to help,” Dimaporo concluded.

Palace key to Mindanao getting 1,265 megawatts

by MANUEL T. CAYON / REPORTER


DAVAO CITY—Malacañang authorizing deployment of power barges, operation of mothballed power plants and rehabilitation of existing plants could make immediately available some 1,265 megawatts to Mindanao, according to the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).

MinDa said on Tuesday additional power could come later from government projects and from those under the Public-Private Partnership Program.

It added that the Palace could approve the dispatch of five power barges—three stationed in Iloilo, one in Navotas City in Metro Manila and one in Tibungco, north of here—to ease the power crisis in Mindanao.

Power Barge (PB) 101, PB 102 and PB 103, all in Iloilo and which were auctioned off last week, each has a capacity of 32 mw. PB 104 in Tibungco also has a capacity of 32 mw.

MinDA recommended the immediate operation of Iligan Diesel Power Plant in Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, which had been temporarily sidelined by the National Power Corp. (Napocor) and the city government of Iligan battling for control of the power plant.

The Commission on Audit has stepped into the fight over the 100-megawatt plant, which, when allowed to operate, is expected to generate 96 mw.

For the medium and long terms, the participants to the Mindanao Power Summit here on April 13 pushed for private-sector initiated projects involving three coal-fired power plants that they said would generate 950 mw.

That of Conal Holdings Inc. has a potential capacity of 200 mw; that of Aboitiz 300 mw; and that of the Ayala group, 300 mw.

Construction of Agus 3, a new power plant along Agus River, for $350 million, would generate 225 mw.

A flood-control project in the Baloi plains in Lanao del Norte costing P1.5 billion would produce 80 mw.

Rehabilitation of Agus 6 with a recently approved P2.59 billion budget would add 10 mw.

MinDA said 21 power-generation projects in the pipeline would double the total capacity of the Mindanao grid to 1,828 mw. Half of this total new capacity would be accounted for by the three coal-fired power plants, which had been approved and granted permits and licenses and are expected to start operating by 2015.

Also planned for construction is Pulangi 5 power plant, which would generate 300 mw.

Pulangi 4 is running at Maramag, Bukidnon.

Other bigger plants would be Bulanog-Batang in Talakag, Bukidnon, with 132 mw; two Zamboanga coal-fired plants, 100 mw and 200 mw, respectively; two Tagoloan hydroelectric plants in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental, 68 mw and 20 mw, respectively; EDC Mindanao Geothermal, 50 mw; expanded Mt. Apo geothermal unit, 50 mw; and Lake Mainit geothermal plant, 50 mw.

32 rescuers pass WASAR training

by ( Vincent N. Labial/PIO-LDN/PIA-10)


TUBOD, Lanao del Norte, April 23 -– Thirty Two members of the Lanao del Norte Emergency Response Team successfully passed the grueling five-day Water Search and Rescue (WASAR) training organized by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) on April 16 to 20, 2012.

“When tropical storm Sendong hit Iligan City, it really opened our eyes and made us realized that we need the WASAR training, that we need to have our own emergency response team, and that we need to purchase rescue equipment,” Governor Khalid Dimaporo explained.

Last 2011, the provincial government started implementing its disaster preparedness program in a bid to win the regional Gawad Kalasag award.

“Last year, our main objective was to win an award, but today it is to be better prepared for any calamities that may hit Lanao del Norte. Winning an award now becomes only secondary,” Dimaporo added.

The Provincial Emergency Response Team (PERT) is composed of provincial government employees, local police officers, members of the 35th Infantry “Makamandag” Battalion, and Red Cross personnel.

Under the WASAR course, participants learned of Disaster Management and Incident Command System, water rescue, and rubber boat operation.

The facilitators for the training include personnel from the Office of Civil Defense, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Coast Guard, and Philippine Air Force Search and Rescue Squadron.

As their final test, the rescuers were required to perform a one-mile swim without any life vest. Participants had to swim from the middle of Panguil bay with its dangerous under currents toward the safety of Tubod harbor to compete their task.

“We are very much thankful to Governor Dimaporo for allowing us to undergo this training. The skills that we learned will help us do our job more efficiently and in a safer manner,” expressed PERT President Arnel Dinglasa.






Moros’ presence in most parts of Philippines ‘feared’

by luwaran.net


April 21, 2012: The presence of Moros, mostly coming from Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, and Marawi City, in most cities and provinces of the Philippines is being feared by residents thereof.

This was gleaned from one of the most asked questions to members of the MILF peace panel in their sorties or dialogues with multi-sectors of society in areas in Mindanao, Visayas, and Luzon, including Metropolitan Manila.

This question cropped up anew during the Philippine Political Science Association (PPSA) conference at Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro City last April 13. First to answer the question, tossed by one of the participants, who was unidentified, was Maulana Bobby Alonto, who said that this “diaspora of Moros” was the direct consequence of the hard conflict in Mindanao where there is less and less opportunity afforded to the people especially to Moros.

‘There is no choice for my people except to seek greener pasture in other areas which are not affected by conflict,” he added.

For his part, Mohagher Iqbal described the diaspora as something not to be feared, saying those Moros are not there to grab lands but to earn an honest living, in contrast to settlers who were planted right in the middle of communities that resulted in the dispossession of lands of the original inhabitants.

“It is very painful when one is dispossessed of his lands by outsiders,” he recalling the bitter experience of his people in past decades.

He assured the audience that these trading Moros are not threat to everyone, saying a minority will never subsumed the majority.

Both Alonto and Iqbal served as two of the panelists, alongside UP Prof. Julkipli Wadi. Prof. Rufa Guiam acted as the moderator of the discussion on the theme: “GPH-MILF Peace Agreement: Now or Never?

More than 200 participants attended the conference, which gathered some of the best minds in this country, which counted Prof. Alex Magno, Dr. Nemencio Prudente, Prof. Rudy Rodil, Prof. Nathan Quimpo, Prof. Rizal Buendia, Prof. Miriam Ferrer, Dr. Eduardo Tadem, and Dr. Teresa Tadem.

Junior netters join in the Cebuana Lhuillier–Tubod leg tennis tourney

by (Vincent N. Labial/PIO-LDN-PIA 10)


TUBOD, Lanao del Norte, April 20 – More than 100 young players from Northern Mindanao participated in the Tubod leg of the Cebuana Lhuillier Age Group Tennis Championships 2012 series.

The tennis tournament which runs from April 17 to 19, 2012 is being held at the sprawling Mindanao Civic Center sports complex, in the capital town of Tubod.

This is the second time that Cebuana Lhuillier is holding an elimination round in this fast-rising province.

In terms of number of participants, Tubod has one of the highest number of entries.

"This could probably be due to the solid support given by the provincial local government unite (LGU) to its tennis program which explains why we have a lot of tennis players here," Tournament Director Mario Crais noted.

The Visayas-Mindanao tournament is currently on its eighth year and boasts of top-seeded players who started excelling in this regional tilt and later on went on to become international star players, like Niño Alcantara of Cagayan de Oro City and Jeson Patrombon from Iligan. Patrombon is currently the highest ranked junior player in Asia.

To encourage young netters to actively compete in the sport, the provincial government has allowed free registration for all players from Lanao del Norte. The provincial LGU has also provided free meals and accommodation for tournament officials.

Participants from out-of-town are also given free accommodation within the tournament venue.

"I am encouraging everybody to keep on playing tennis. This is one of the best sports. I am also very thankful to the provincial government especially Governor Dimaporo for his continued support to the sport," expressed Crais.

A total of 78 netters came from the host province while 25 players came from the cities of Iligan, Cagayan de Oro, Ozamis, Gingoog, Malaybalay, Marawi, Tangub, Aurora, and nearby provinces.

The provincial government through its Sports Coordinator Nelson Lasola lauded Cebuana Lhuillier for taking an active role in promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports.

Other legs of the Cebuana Lhuillier Age Group Tennis Series include Kidapawan, Midsayap, Iligan, Marawi, Ozamis, Mambajao, Butuan, Surigao, Ubay, Ormoc, Bais, Cagayan de Oro, Gingoog, and Consolacion.

News Feature: 300 houses in five days as GK Bayani Challenge 2012

by pia.gov.ph


ILIGAN CITY, Lanao del Norte, April 18 (PIA) -- “Dito sa Iligan, walang iwanan!” rang loud all over Sta. Elena gym as participants of Gawad Kalinga Bayani Challenge 2012 celebrated their culmination program.

After the boodle fight dinner, volunteers from distant places were given chance to share their experiences during the five-day Bayani Challenge in a live TV-broadcast via Radio Television Malacañang.

This year’s Bayani Challenge is being held simultaneously in five places: Mindoro, Masbate, Amlan Negros Oriental, Cagayan de Oro city, and Iligan City, which started April 9 to 14.

“Our target is to build 3000 houses, and right now we have already hit the minimum 300 houses,” said June Joson, chief of staff of the Presidential Communications Operations Office.

Meanwhile, Ms. Gina Cruz, village coordinator, confirmed that there were 218 teams, comprising 3,113 volunteers, registered and joined the challenge to build houses for the poor, with the tropical storm Sendong survivors as priority beneficiaries, for the houses at Sta. Elena, in the relocation site called the Bayanihan Village.

Participants in building the core shelter were not just Iliganons but people from other places as well, including teams from Cebu, Compostella Valley, General Santos, Tacurong, Bukidnon, Butuan, including students from De La Salle University and Ateneo de Manila University, including teams from Singapore and Australia.

Team City Engineer’s Office of the Iligan City Government and the Team Lanao del Norte were among the teams with big delegation whose volunteers were employees, division chiefs, army soldiers. Gov. Khalid Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte and Congresswoman Alliah Dimaporo of 2nd Legislative District of Lanao del Norte have hired skilled workers to do the masonry.

“This five-day Bayani Challenge served as an encouragement to all of us here, to help, just to think that even people from other places came to help, how much more for us here in Iligan, and the construction of the houses will still continue even after the Bayani Challenge,” concluded Joson. (Christmei Joy Ranido/LVG-PIA 10)

Agrarian Reform Multi-Million Infra Support Projects Strengthens

by MIKE U. CRISMUNDO


April 15, 2012, 8:52pm CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – To institutionalized the development component of the Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Project Phase lll (ARISP lll), the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR-10) in Northern Mindanao and National Irrigation Administration (NIA) inked a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for project implementation in identified areas in Northern Mindanao, it was learned Sunday.


The DAR-10 led by Regional Director Engr. Felix B. Aguhob and the NIA spearheaded by Regional manager Engr. Felix M. Razo signed a MOA for the institutional development component of the ARISP- Phase lll here recently.

ARISP-Phase lll is financed by the government of Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The ARISP III is a project which implements irrigation and drainage facilities, post-harvest facilities, farm-to-market roads, potable water supply and institutional development.

The MOA aims to equip the field implementers and selected subject organizations with appropriate operational and managerial skills to undertake the institutional development activities from organization to operation and maintenance of the irrigation sub-projects constructed/rehabilitated

under ARISP lll.

NIA-10 will serve as the technical assistance partner institution (TAPI) of the DAR in the implementation of the institutional development component of the irrigation sub-project in the region.

Lanao del Norte and Bukidnon are the provinces with irrigation projects under ARISP III where big number of farmers are defendant of the irrigation system.

Meanwhile, economic development in the provinces of Lanao del Norte and Tangub City in Misamis Occidental will go high and boosted when the construction of Panguil Bay bridge will be push through, before the end of the year, local officials said.

A revised cost of Php 4.425 billion have already been proposed to finance the construction of the Panguil Bay Bridge that will connect Tangub City in Misamis Occidental and the capital town of Tubod in Lanao del Norte.

The scope of work of this project across Panguil Bay includes the construction of the approach roads at both sides of Misamis Occidental and Lanao del Norte, involving a total length of 1,240 meters and the Bridge itself involving a length of 2, 360 meters or 2.36 kilometers.

The estimated original cost of the project was placed at Php 2.671 billion that include the mangrove conservation on both sides and the road right of way (ROW) acquisition.

Region 10 Project Monitoring and Evaluation Division Chief Engr. Jaime H. Pacampara said under the proposed financing scheme of a public-private partnership (PPP), the government will provide a maximum subsidy of Php 1.8 billion and the private sector to

finance the balance of the project.

The geophysical survey and geotechnical investigation, detailed survey and design of the approach roads and the preparation of plans and program of works for the bridge approach have all been completed.

As of this posting, the feasibility study of the project is conducted by the Project Monitoring Office (PMO) of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Central Office in Manila, it said.

In another development, a total of 75 regular employees of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE-10) and 5 Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) employees attended the Moral Renewal Seminar, dubbed “Paglalakbay at

Paglilingkod ng Puso,” here recently.

In coordination with the department’s Human Resource Development Service, the Lay Formation Center, the formation arm of the Archdiocese of Manila, facilitated the two-day - Levels 1 and 2 towards the journey in re-discovering one’s value as a person, renew commitment to the dignity of work, which in turn would result to patriotic contribution, and re-assess life’s meaning which would achieve inner peace in dealing with others.

Region 10 DoLE Regional Director, Atty. Johnson G. Cañete said the activity boost up productivity of the employees and at the same time encourages healthy relationships in the workplace.

LGUs in the dark over Mindanao outages

by ( Christmei Joy Ranido/LVG-PIA 10)


DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/13 April) – Many local government chief executives appeared to have been kept in the dark over the curtailment of power in their areas, where brownouts would last up to four hours since January this year.

“We are here in this summit to get as much information so that we could have something to say to our constituents,” Lanao del Norte Gov. Mohammad Khalid Dimaporo told a news conference at the sides of the Mindanao Power Summit on Friday at the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao. Dimaporo and other members of the Confederation of Governors, City and Municipal Mayors and Presidents of Leagues of Provinces and Municipalities in Mindanao (Confed) attended the summit. Dimaporo’s comment came three months after brownouts lasting hours have beset households and businesses without any of the energy agencies informing the causes of the outages. “We have the same comment as you have, but we need to rely on facts and we have to know the situation because we have been battered by our constituents in our province,” he said, reacting to the commentary that the government energy agencies and the private generating companies had conspired to curtail power and force government to sell the hydroelectric power plants and increase electricity rates. The summit did not tackle the issue raised by Dimaporo. Gov. Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) shared the same sentiment, as he and Dimaporo disclosed that the governors in Mindanao had reached a consensus on certain points, such as asking the national government to discontinue its plan to privatize the hydroelectric power plants in Lanao and Bukidnon. Davao del Norte governor and Confed president Rodolfo del Rosario told the summit participants that the brownouts had already affected business and discouraged investors. But he said this should not pressure the national government into selling the power plants.

“We would ask Congress to revisit the Epira (Electric Power Industry Reform Act) and look again at the provision on the privatization aspect of the assets of the National Power Corp. (NPC) and to rescind the operational management agreement between Napocor and PSALM (Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management) Corp. because the Napocor has been earning billions in the plants but its money that is poured into PSALM was not being spent for its rehabilitation and maintenance,” he said. Sarangani Gov. Miguel Rene Dominguez said he expected the outages to recur anew after the series of power curtailments in 2010 and previous years. “There have been no new power plants established since then, and I knew it was coming.” But he said “the national government role is always to make an enabling environment for business”. Gov. Douglas Cagas of Davao del Sur rejected suspicions of government involvement in the alleged conspiracy behind the power curtailment, saying that “it’s illogical for government to kill business.” He, however, said that the local officials should be “properly appraised of the situation.” The Confed, along with the other sectoral organizations, have expressed anxiety over the possible increases in electricity rates once the plants would be placed on auction. The representative of the Mindanao Commission on Women also rejected the idea of interconnecting Mindanao to the grids in the Visayas and Luzon, which have surpluses, fearing that the huge cost involved in laying the submarine cables would be charged to the consumers in Mindanao. The Department of Energy could not be immediately reached for comment. It was Secretary Lualhati Antonino, chair of the Mindanao Development Authority who voiced out early last month the indignation of the affected provinces as she demanded a Congressional inquiry into the power curtailment and expressed suspicions there was manipulation behind it. The House committee on energy and the special committee on Mindanao affairs eventually held a joint public hearing. (MindaNews)

UNFPA conducts consultative confab for Sendong-affected areas

by ( Christmei Joy Ranido/LVG-PIA 10)


ILIGAN CITY, Lanao del Norte, April 12 (PIA) -- In natural disasters, women and girls become more vulnerable to sexual- and gender-based violence and exploitation.

With the transition of humanitarian to development approach in addressing sexual- and gender-based violence (SGBV) in emergency situations, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) spearheaded a consultative workshop slated April 10 and 11 at the Crystal Inn, Iligan City.

The event is in partnership with the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), the Iligan City Council of Women (ICCW), and the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 10.

Abdel Jamal Disangcopan of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that the workshop aimed to capacitate the subclusters to continue to improve their actions and interventions on gender issues and women’s rights specifically on SGBV.

It would provide an analysis of the evolving SGBV prevention and response mechanisms in Sendong affected areas.

Also, the participants would formulate a multisectoral SGBV a workplan from April to December 2012.

In the two-day activity, the participants would examine the relevant documents for the implementation of the one-stop shop, and calibrate and functionalize the SGBV referral system in humanitarian setting.

Said consultative workshop is an assessment to what has been done by the subclusters (organizations and agencies), which was organized last January 2011, on their weaknesses and strengths, the gaps, and what needs to be improved in helping solve the current problem caused by tropical storm Sendong particularly on the issue of sexual- and gender-based violence.

Participants involved were from different agencies and organization such as the Committee on Women and Family Relations, Association of Barangay Councils, CSWDO, City Hospital, Iligan City Police Office, Department of Interior and Local Government, City Planning and Development Office, City Prosecutor, the Philippine Information Agency, ICCW and District Coordinators, Empowerment and Reaffirmation of Paternal Abilities Training.

These participating organizations and agencies serve as subclusters in the Cluster System that is institutionalized and is made legal as stated by in National Disaster Coordinating Council Circular 2007- 05, Memorandum No.17, series of 2008 – Guidelines in the Coordination of the Delivery of Humanitarian Assistance to Disaster Victims and Internally Displaced persons.

The cluster groupings are composed of health, shelter, food and security, nutrition, water sanitation and hygiene, and camp coordination and camp management.

The cluster approach intends to ensure adequate capacity and predictable leadership across humanitarian sectors in the national, regional, and provincial levels of the country.

"When you save life, it involves the preservation of dignity and self respect of the person. “SGBV is an emergency issue and it needs prevention and response,” Mary Scheree Lynn V. Herrera, one of the resource speakers and SGBV Humanitarian Coordinator for Iligan and CDO said.

Sujata Tuladhar, UNFPA representative and facilitator said, “addressing gender-based violence (GBV) among displaced populations has become an increasingly high priority over the past 20 years, coinciding with the growing worldwide attention to human rights and women’s rights.”

Solons commend police and military in providing security during the Holy Week

by (Melvin T. Anggot and Virgilio C. Garcia/CIO/PIA-10)


ILIGAN CITY, Lanao del Norte, April 12 -- The Sangguniang Panlungsod here approved through a mass motion a resolution to commend the police, military and the civil security unit (CSU) of Iligan City.

Councilor Moises Dalisay, Jr., said this is for providing security in Iligan City during the Holy Week, which did not have any untoward incident.

Three different resolutions were passed for the Iligan City Police Office (ICPO) through Police Senior Superintendent Celso Regencia and City Director of ICPO, Philippine Army through Col. Ricardo Jalad, 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade, and CSU, through Liberato Jungao.






Director Abner M. Caga PIA, R10 & 13 Cluster

by mdb-admin


New irrigation projects up for implementation REGION 10 – The National Irrigation Administration-10 is currently implementing a total of 70 irrigation related projects. Of such number, 29 are in Bukidnon, 13 in Lanao del Norte, 11 in Misamis Occidental, 14 in Misamis Oriental and 3 in Camiguin. Once completed, the region will then have 2,911 new service areas and able to rehabilitate 7,494 hectares and restore 175 hectares.

Mindanao electric coops submit position paper to solve power shortage

by Lilybeth G. Ison


KIDAPAWAN CITY, April 9 (PNA) — With the upcoming Power Summit on April 13, the 33-member Association of Mindanao Rural Electric Cooperatives (Amreco) said it will present its position paper to help in finding solution to the power problem in the region. In its recommendation, the Mindanao power cooperatives demand for “transparency” which will require knowledge of the public on the data of what the daily available supply is, among the contracted capacity from the generators with the National Power Corporation (Napocor). Transparency also requires knowledge on daily basis as to what is the available supply that the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) can dispatch, be that power supply contracted by Napocor or otherwise, and on what is actually withdrawn by the customers — to show who may have wittingly or unwittingly withdrawn more than what is contracted. The Amreco also rejected moves to privatize the state-run Agus and Pulangui hydro-electric plants, saying it could complicate the peace and security in the area. In its position paper, the Amreco said the planned privatization “will endanger and exacerbate hostility to the hydro plants by the people in the communities adjacent to Lake Lanao, where the Agus draws it water source; and Pulangui River in Bukidnon.” The Maranao folk of Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte had been claiming their share from revenues generated by the Agus hydropower plants while the lumad of Bukidnon wanted the government to compensate them for the use of the Pulangui River. Both hydropower systems were being run by Napocor. Energy Undersecretary Josephine Patricia Asirit earlier said the Department of Energy (DoE) had asked for a deferment of the privatization of the Agus-Pulangui hydro-electric plant in deference to Congress, which will decide on the privatization. Senator Francis Joseph Escudero, a member of the joint congressional power commission, said the commission will meet on April 19 to discuss the power crisis in Mindanao and resolve the privatization issue. Senator Sergio Osmena III, the commission’s chairman, said a joint resolution by the House of Representatives and the Senate will be needed to approve the privatization. “We are in consultation with Congress,” he said. Asirit said power barges would be deployed to Mindanao to produce an extra 120 megawatts (MW) since the Agus-Pulangui plants, which produce 180 MW, would be shut down for repairs starting April 17. She, however, said using the Iligan diesel plant and power barges would mean the power rates in Mindanao would go up by 50 to 80 centavos per kilowatt-hour. “Unpopular decisions have to be made to solve the power situation in Mindanao. It is inevitable. We have to address the shortage in power,” she said. Meanwhile, the Amreco lauded the energy department for issuing DoE Circular No. DC2012-03-0004 directing compliance with the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2011 (EPIRA) to address the power supply situation, including the rationalization of the available capacities in the Mindanao Grid. The Mindanao electric cooperatives also agreed to continue dialogues and consultations with the stakeholders, government sectors and the general consuming public to find more appropriate solutions in the short, medium and long terms for the power situation in the region. The group also calls for the creation of a “Mindanao Power Plan” with the end view of looking at available solutions to avoid recurrence of power shortage.

3 PHL teachers make history in recent Microsoft Regional Education Forum

by businessmirror.com.ph


BESTING 60 teachers from all over Asia Pacific, three Filipinos emerged victorious in this year’s Partners in Learning Regional Education Forum conducted by Microsoft in Auckland, New Zealand. This was the first in the history of the regional forum that all the representatives of the country won. Participated in by 14 countries, 63 teachers competed for one country winner each and six categories, namely, Extended Learning Beyond the Classroom; Collaboration; Knowledge Building and Critical Thinking; Innovation in Challenging Contexts; Cutting Edge Use of Microsoft Technology for Learning; and Educators’ Choice. This forum aims to drive collaboration among educators and school leaders in promoting innovative programs.

“The victory of our Filipino teachers is not an honor just for Microsoft but for the Philippines as a whole. We have yet again showcased the amazing talent of Filipino educators deemed among the best in the region,” said John Bessey, managing director, Microsoft Philippines.

“We at Microsoft have always believed that Filipino educators play key roles in molding the minds of the young to become better individuals as they grow up. I would like to congratulate the three teachers for their commitment and dedication to academe and for their perseverance to create better learning opportunities to their students. You have all made us proud,” he said.

Microsoft’s regional education forum promotes best practices in education as well as establishing a strong community of innovators worldwide across all levels. It aims to connect educators and school leaders with one another to network and develop lasting relationships that would encourage collaborative learning from one another.

Her project “Mangrove Planting” proved to be the most effective project among the entries of the Philippines as Shaleen Seraña of Tuan Datu Hadji Abdulla Niño Memorial High School in Zamboanga was hailed the country winner.

“I am so blessed that I was able to join in the Microsoft Innovative Teacher Leadership Awards. I am very happy and proud to represent the Philippines in the Regional Competition and now in the Global competition in Greece. A million thanks to Globe Filipino Teachers program, Coalition for Better Education and most of all to Microsoft,” she said.

Also winning recognition were Edalyn Olis of Lala National High School in Lanao del Norte for her “E-dokyo Ito” project that won in the Innovation in Challenging Contexts Category; and Estelito Mendoza of Baguio National High School for his project “Learning Beyond the Classroom and Make A Difference” where he was a runner-up.

“Matthew 7:7-8: Seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened, and ask and it will be given. Coming to Auckland, New Zealand, gave me the chance to be closer to God. The forum has given me the chance to grow professionally and be with the brightest minds in the Asia Pacific region. The trip is an answered prayer and I’m glad Microsoft was used as an instrument. The victory is a big bonus. God is good all the time,” Olis said.

When asked about his experience in the competition, Mendoza said, “It is an honor and a privilege to represent our country in this program as well as to compete with other innovative teachers in the region. This is also a victory of my students and my school. Without them, this wouldn’t be possible. To God be the glory. Thank you to Microsoft for this opportunity,” he said.

The Microsoft Partners in Learning Program is a global initiative for education that focuses on improving teaching and learning through the effective use of technology in the learning process of students. Seraña will represent the country in the Microsoft Global Forum in Greece.

The Global Forum will be participated in by teachers all over the world who will be able to attend workshops, present their projects to panelists and engage in development programs, which will help them better craft their teaching skills and methods.

“Microsoft has always made it a point to put education at the forefront of our citizenship efforts. Education is one of the important aspects that Microsoft focuses on and we provide opportunities for students and teachers to use their passion, creativity and technology skills to help make a difference in their country as well as the world and realize their full potential,” said Bessey.

Women’s groups start life-saving skills training

by (MUC/RER/PIA-Caraga)


TUBOD, Lanao del Norte, April 7 (PIA)-- Aiming to have an active participation of all sectors in the society in time of disaster, the provincial government of this province in Northern Mindanao involved women’s groups in disaster preparedness and emergency response.

The first batch of the two-day training was done last week at the Mindanao Civic Center Grand Stadium here.

The disaster preparedness and emergency response training was jointly conducted by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), Provincial Population Office, and Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office.

“We decided to expose the women’s organizations to this type of training because they are the ones often left at home and they should know how best to respond during emergencies,” said PDRRMO Head Marlyn Trozo.

Also facilitating the initial disaster response training were the members of the Provincial Emergency Response Team, provincial police force, 35th Infantry "Makamandag" Battalion and Lanao del Norte firefighters.

The Provincial Emergency Response Team is composed of provincial employees intensively trained to provide immediate assistance to victims of natural or man-made calamities.

Participants were women’s groups from the municipalities of Linamon, Kauswagan, Bacolod, Maigo, Kolambugan, Tubod, Baroy, Lala, Kapatagan, Salvador, and Sultan Naga Dimaporo as well as members of the Lanao del Norte Producers Association.

The participants in the first batch disaster seminar and training learned the hazards during calamities and its counter measures, fire suppression, first aid training, and basic life-support.

A rescue olympics was also held to simulate emergency situations which tested the participants’ skills in extinguishing fires and in handling injured victims.

The provincial government set to widen the preparedness and disaster response training and seminars to all sectors of the society.

“This is another way of empowering our women. The vital life-saving skills that they received in this training can be of great help not only in their respective communities but in their homes as well,” stressed Lanao del Norte Gov. Mohamad Khalid Q. Dimaporo.

Iligan to award completed houses for Sendong survivors

by Elaine O. Ratunil


ILIGAN CITY, Lanao del Norte, April 6 -- The Diocese of Iligan is now ready to turn over to the city government of Iligan 20 completed houses built at the Luinab relocation sites on April 10 for the tropical storm Sendong survivors.

This was revealed by Mayor Lawrence Ll. Cruz after the Strategic Early Recovery Action Planning Workshop (SERAP) at Elena Tower Inn under the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) with the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).

Mayor Cruz also said 24 houses were completed at the Bayanihan Village of Iligan at Sta. Elena ready to be turned over on April 9.

Earlier it was learned from the mayor's wife Gina Cruz that there are already 310 completed houses at Sta. Elena relocation site called Bayanihan Village that will also be turned over after the Gawad Kalinga Bayani Challenge 2012. She is the chairperson of GK Bayani Challenge conducted in Iligan starting April 9 until April 14 this year. (Melvin T. Anggot and Virgilio Garcia-CIO/PIA-10)

PCOO calls for volunteers to join Bayani Challenge 2012

by Lorry V. Gabule


ILIGAN CITY, Lanao del Norte, April 5 (PIA) -- The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), through its flagship project “Pilipinas Natin (PN)” is at the forefront again, this time calling for volunteers to join Bayani Challenge 2012 which will run simultaneously in five provinces, namely Cagayan De Oro, Iligan, Dumaguete, Masbate, and Mindoro, from April 9 to 14.

With a theme “Pilipinas, Ngayon Na!” this five-day activity intends to awaken the “bayani” in every Filipino and test how far one would go in the spirit of volunteerism for community development. This project also wishes to highlight the urgency of coming together for a common cause, which is to build a better Philippines for the coming generations to enjoy.

“It is inherent in every Filipino to care and this is our chance to show the world that together, we can build a strong nation,” PCOO secretary Sonny Coloma said in a press statement, adding, “we can start by caring for our own town or city and eventually level up by helping other communities through acts of volunteerism and “bayanihan” (working together), that’s why I encourage one and all to take part in our Bayani Challenge and experience the vibrancy and passion that the Pilipinas Natin family has towards nation building.”

The event’s highlights include building of houses and schools, fun and learning activities with the kids, love for the environment and health mission. PN has also laid down other recreational activities like photography sessions, sports competition, bayanihan race, cooking demo, and concert, to serve as breather to participating volunteers.

PCOO, through its Office of Special Concerns (OSC), in partnership with Gawad Kalinga, hopes to mobilize 2,000 volunteers (from the youth, government, and non-government organizations) in each province, which means a total of 10,000 volunteers across the country to create an impact on 3,640 families.

Interested participants should first form a team of 15 volunteers and register online at www.bayanichallenge2012.blogspot.com. Then, they can choose the area and activity where they would want to participate. A confirmation email will be sent containing information regarding what to bring and the detailed activity plan. (PCOO/PIA 10-LDN)

3rd province-wide barangay congress held in Lanao del Norte

by (Vincent N. Labial and Lovely Rosario-LDN/PIA-10)


TUBOD, Lanao del Norte, April 4 -- More than 2,000 barangay officials from over 400 barangays of the province came to the sprawling Mindanao Civic Center (MCC), in the capital town of Tubod to participate in the 3rd Provincial Barangay Congress last March 29.

The participants came from 19 towns of Lanao del Norte and was composed of barangay captains and barangay councilors.

“This is a good venue to check on how the barangays are doing. To hear their concerns and learn of some success stories. Without strong leaders in the barangay level, we cannot successfully implement national and provincial anti-poverty programs,” Governor Khalid Dimaporo expressed.

With this year’s theme “Kabarangayan Una sa Tanan Alang sa Malahutayong Kalamboan,” barangay officers, who came from all over the province except for the municipalities of Magsaysay, Poona Piagapo, and Pantao Ragat who did not have any representatives, came to the the MCC gymnasium.

During the congress, Mary Jean Quibranza, representative of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), also lectured on several barangay affairs topics like the DILG Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 2010-149 (Posting of Barangay Budget, Statement of Income and Expenditures and other Barangay Financial Transactions and Annual Procurement Plan) and DILG MC No. 2010-138 (Use of the 20% Component of the Annual Internal Allotment Shares).

Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentive Awards were also handed out to the 2011 winners.

A turn-over ceremony for two brand-new ambulances was also held at the MCC parking area. These were given to the coastal towns of Kolambugan and Baroy. .

Skills Training For Lanao Women

by MIKE U. CRISMUNDO


TUBOD, Lanao del Norte – In an effort to persuade the active participation of all sectors of society during the incidence of disasters, the provincial government of Lanao del Norte has tapped the involvement of various women’s groups in the province in disaster preparedness and emergency response.

To let the women’s groups know their roles in saving lives, and types of disaster response, the provincial government started training women from the various towns of Lanao del Norte.

The disaster preparedness and emergency response training is believed to be the first-ever training for women’s groups in Mindanao.

The first batch of the two-day training was conducted last week at the Mindanao Civic Center Grand Stadium here.

To empower the various women’s organizations in the province, the disaster preparedness and emergency response training was jointly conducted by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), Provincial Population Office (PPO), and Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO).

“We decided to expose the women’s organizations to this type of training because they are the ones often left at home, and they should know how best to respond during emergencies,” said PDRRMO head Marilyn Trozo.

Also facilitating the initial disaster response training are members of the Provincial Emergency Response Team, provincial police force, Army’s 35th Infantry Battalion troopers, and Lanao del Norte firefighters.

The Provincial Emergency Response Team is composed of provincial employees intensively trained to provide immediate assistance to victims of natural or man-made calamities.

Participants include members of women’s groups from the municipalities of Linamon, Kauswagan, Bacolod, Maigo, Kolambugan, Tubod, Baroy, Lala, Kapatagan, Salvador, and Sultan Naga Dimaporo, as well as members of the Lanao del Norte Producers Association (LANORPA).

The participants in the first batch disaster seminar and training learned the hazards during calamities and its counter measures, fire suppression, first aid training, and basic life-support.

A rescue Olympics was also held to simulate emergency situations that tested the participants’ skills in extinguishing fires, and in handling injured victims.

The provincial government is set to widen the preparedness and disaster response training and seminars to all sectors of the society.

Pinoy teachers win in Microsoft education forum

by ABS-CBNnews.com


MANILA, Philippines – Three Filipino teachers emerged victorious in Microsoft’s Partners in Learning Regional Education Forum, which aims to promote collaborative learning among schools.

Shateen Seraña of Tuan Datu Hadji Abdulla Niño Memorial High School in Zamboanga, Edalyn Olis of Lala National High School in Lanao del Norte, and Estelito Mendoza of Baguio National High School bested 60 teachers from the Asia Pacific region during the forum, which was held from March 20 to 22 in Auckland, New Zealand.

Seraña was hailed the country winner with her project titled “Mangrove Planting.”

Olis won in the Innovation in Challenging Contexts category for her “E-dokyo” project, while Mendoza was a runner-up for his piece called “Learning Beyond the Classroom and Make A Difference.”

In a statement, Microsoft Philippines said this is the first time that all representatives of the country won in the said forum.

“The victory of our Filipino teachers is an honor not just for Microsoft but for the Philippines as a whole. We have yet again showcased the amazing talent of Filipino educators that is deemed among the best in the region,” said Microsoft Philippines managing director John Bessey.

Seraña will represent the country at the Microsoft Global Forum in Greece in November.

Here, teachers across the globe will present their projects to panelists and engage in development programs.






Iligan city to train 125 Sendong survivors on beauty care

by (EOR/Melvin T. Anggot and Virgilio C. Garcia, CIO/PIA-10)


ILIGAN CITY, Lanao del Norte, Apr. 1 (PIA) -– The personnel and proprietor of a well-known beauty salon from Manila will be arriving in Iligan today, March 31 to conduct a free beauty care training to 125 tropical storm Sendong survivors on beauty care.

Virginia Manaloto, Area Coordinator and Action Officer of Urban Poor Coordinating Office (UPCO) of the office of Mayor Lawrence Ll. Cruz, said the proprietor of Jing Monis Salon will lead in the training to be held at the Session Hall of the Sangguniang Panlungsod at city hall.

Manoloto said these 125 survivors belong to the urban poor.

The skills training is made possible to the efforts of the local government of this city through the office of the mayor and Councilor Jose Zalsos, UPCO and Presidential Commission for the Urban Power through Lito Echavez.

Construction of NHA Iligan Ecoville launched

by (Melvin T. Anggot and Virgilio C. Garcia/EOR/MTA/VCG-CIO/PIA 10)


ILIGAN CITY, Lanao del Norte, March 31 -- The kick-off ceremony for the National Housing Authority (NHA) Iligan Ecoville was conducted March 28 at Upper Paitan, Barangay Dalipuga, as one of the relocation sites for families affected by tropical storm Sendong.

Based on the subdivision plan of the NHA, 1,577 houses made of bricks from silt and soil of the rivers will be built in the 17.2 hectares of the property. The bricks will be made using the technology from Agham at Teknolohiyang Pinoy (AGTEKPIN).

Jesus B. Pring, chief executive officer of AGTEKPIN, said the bricks are called “eco-bricks” as they are fire resistant, termite proof, and earthquake resistant.

The lot is 49.5 square meter-wide with a floor area of 21 square meters in each unit. A unit will consist of two rooms, one comfort room, fireplace, kitchen, and tank for water storage.

The facilities of the place will include a chapel, eco-park, fishpond, vegetable garden, market, day care center, livelihood center, and basketball court.

The kick-off ceremony was attended by Mayor Lawrence Ll. Cruz and City Councilor Joe Zalsos, chairman on the Committee on Housing and Resettlement of the city council, barangay officials of Barangay Dalipuga including people from NHA, Couples for Christ-Answering the Cry of the Poor, and other partner groups and agencies.


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