TRENDS (21 January 2010)

The role of the media is to promote understanding not conflict, Remonde

CAGAYAN de Oro City (01/21/10) – Press Secretary Cerge M. Remonde’s demise is certainly a loss to the media community who has looked up to this “struggling probinsiyano” broadcast journalist, as a role model.

From his humble beginnings in Cebu, he was able to rise up and conquer the walls of Malacañang, a feat that no other mediaman, in the past, has done.

This was how Ditas Gualberto, Station Manager of DXIM-Radyo ng Bayan and Vincent Jaudian, President of the Cagayan de Oro Press Club (COPC), together with the rest of the media in the city, described their grief over the death of a “friend and leader.”

He was guest speaker of the club’s 58th induction ceremonies during the celebration of the Media Week in May, last year, almost four (4) months after he was appointed Press Secretary by Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Feb. 1.

Addressing the COPC members in English interspersed with “Cebuano,” he expounded on the power of the media and the role mediamen play in today’s Philippine setting, and we quote:

“Let us be cautious of the power of media even as we congratulate the mediamen for their dedication and dynamism in doing their job as messengers of truth.

Power for its own sake is dirty and only becomes meaningful if used for the common good. With power comes great responsibility. We all know how important is the role that we play, because we define the issues of the day.

We have the power to create and the power to build but we also have the power to destroy. This power can make you ‘intoxicated’ as some of our colleagues have been intoxicated wrongly.

‘Kon ang usa ka mediaman, usa ka brodkaster o usa ka magsusulat masayop, ang kasaypanan nga iyang mahimo mopatay sa kamatuoran ug kung mamatay ang kamatuoran, kita magapos sa kangitngit sa ka-ignorante.’ (A wrong-doing of a mediaman, he be in broadcast or print, can kill the truth and once the truth is dead, it makes people live in the confines of darkness and ignorance).

Only the truth can set us free and once it is dead because of our wrong-doing, then we have been irresponsible in our practice.

We know that politics in this country has been made into a commercial proposition instead of a noble public service.

So that the challenge for us is to improve the quality of politics by improving the quality and level of public and political conditions, which we can do, since we are the ones that dictate the political, civic and public discourse.

So now we wonder, ‘Ngano nakabaton kita ug katilingban nga nagkagubot ug nagkaguliyang? Di ba kaha nga kita nakatampo niining maong kagubot ug kaguliyang.’ (Why do we have a society that is in disarray and chaos? Have we not contributed to this situation?).

Are we promoting understanding which is the purpose of communication? Is the kind of dialogue we are pushing, one that generates heat? Remember that when we generate heat, we kindle fire and when we start that fire, we will end up in social conflagration.

Yet, when we generate light, we create illumination and understanding and in understanding we can arrive at a better social comfort.”

Obviously referring to his being a ‘Cebuano,’ the dialect of most people in the city, he said:

“If Latin is the language to communicate with God, German with that of the horse and French with that of love, then “ang atong kaugalingong pinulongan mao ang lingguwahe sa atong kasing-kasing (Our own dialect is the language of our hearts).” (Rutchie Cabahug Aguhob, Philippine Information Agency, region 10)


Philhealth coverage expands 175.81 percent under Pres. Arroyo

CAGAYAN de Oro City (01/21/10) – Some 81.64 million beneficiaries were covered by the quality health care package of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (Philhealth), as of July, last year.

This figure is 175.81 percent (%) higher compared to 29.6 million beneficiaries who were covered by Philhealth, as of Dec. 2000, before Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assumed office in 2001.

Similarly, 1.14 million households were benefitted by the social development projects under the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Community Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) program of the President.

Aimed at empowering poor communities, these KALAHI-CIDSS projects were implemented in a total of 5,555 depressed barangays, nationwide, as of June 2009.

Meanwhile, citizens in the countryside were given access to affordable medicines through 15,000 outlets of the Botika ng Barangay that were opened during her term.

Convinced that with electrification comes better quality of life and progress, the President also hastened the implementation of the Barangay Electrification Project resulting in wider coverage in terms of the number of barangay energized, from 80.1 percent (%) in 2000 to 99.39 percent (%) in 2009 or an increase of 24.05 percent (%). (PIA-10)


Pres. Arroyo builds 294 housing units, as of Dec. 2009

CAGAYAN de Oro City (01/21/10) – Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has successfully stimulated the housing and construction sector to engage in government housing projects and build more houses for the poor.

Thus, she was able to convince the sector to build a total of 294,995 housing units, from 2001-2009, which is nearly as much as the past two (2) presidents combined were able to do: Ramos, 203,891 units and Estrada, 98,265 units.

She has also afforded better homes and low-cost housing for 88,885 resettled families, who were affected by government’s priority infrastructure projects.

To encourage home ownership, during her term, the President made homes more affordable by reducing and cutting in half, the housing rates, from 12 percent (%) to six (6) percent (%) for a P300,000 and P400,000 housing loans, respectively.

Meanwhile, Pres. Arroyo caused the release of some P12 billion by the Home Development Mutual Fund (PAG-IBIG) to provide financial assistance to residents of calamity and disaster-stricken areas affected by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng, last year. (PIA-10)


PGMA provides more jobs than 3 presidents

MALAYBALAY City (1/20/10) – The country’s graduates of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) rose 242.26 percent (%) in 2009 generating more jobs.

Records show the total number of graduates during President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s term reached 1,903,793, an increase of almost four (4) times its 1998-2000 figures of 556,232.

One of the Arroyo administration’s flagship agenda under the Pangulong Gloria Scholarship Program, the TVET offers courses like automotive servicing, bartending, building wiring installation, commercial cooking, computer hardware servicing, food & beverage services, housekeeping and slaughter operations, among others.

Through this program, great job opportunities opened, producing more contracts and employment here and abroad. (PIA-10)


More jobs in BPO-ICT during PGMA’s term

CAGAYAN de Oro City (01/21/10)—A total of 500,000 employees in the business process outsourcing and information and communication technology industry (BPO-ICT) was created during the term of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

With this, the Philippines was dubbed as the “Offshoring Destination of the Year” in 2009.

Through a strong, positive and competent work force, the President looks at BPO-ICT as an avenue to create more jobs for Filipinos. (PIA 10)


Call center industry booms under PGMA

CAGAYAN de Oro City (01/21/10)—The country’s call center industry has generated a total of 280,000 jobs under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

This figure shows that the number of call center workers climbed by 11,566.67 percent (%), as of December 2009, when it was only 2,400 since Pres. Arroyo assumed into office in 2000.

During her administration, the revenues from the industry was projected to increase to $4.2 billion compared to $24 million in 2000.

The President sees the call center industry as a strong sources of jobs for many Filipinos, thereby, weathering the effects of economic recession in the country. (PIA-10)


Arroyo administration raises RP irrigated areas to 20%

MALAYBALAY City (21 January) – The administration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo raised the country’s irrigated areas from 1.5 million hectares in year 2000 to 1.8 million hectares in 2009.

This 20 percent (%) rise in irrigated lands boosts farmers’ productivity and income, strengthening the government’s stand on food security.

Irrigated agriculture is one of the major thrusts of the President because she believes that farmers’ productivity should grow rapidly to keep up with the demand for basic food needs of the Filipinos.

The increase in irrigated areas has also created a positive effect on agricultural goals and economic growth of the nation. (PIA-10)


Police Director Milla tells PNP unit heads to study Comelec guidelines

CAGAYAN de Oro City (01/21/10) – Read, study and ask about the joint letter directive/ operational guidelines for the 2010 elections. In case of doubt, consult the Commission on Elections. Don’t take life. Don’t cut corners.

Also, make use of the media. Invite them to visit your checkpoints. They are very helpful in disseminating these guidelines to the public to ensure the conduct of a transparent, honest, orderly and peaceful elections (HOPE).

This was the advice of Police Director Jaime E. Milla of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations in Eastern Mindanao (DIPO-EM) to all provincial and city directors of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the region who attended the conference called by the Regional Joint Security Control Center (RJSCC) at Camp Alagar, recently.

“Let us be very conversant of the contents of the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Philippine National Police (AFP-PNP) Joint Operational Guidelines for the 2010 National and Local elections,” the Police Director said.

He also told those present to take the initiative to go out to the community, coordinate with the Election Officers in their areas of jurisdiction, the civic organizations and ask the cooperation of all stakeholders to really achieve HOPE in May.

Among others, the following Comelec Resolutions regarding the upcoming national exercise were discussed: No. 8714 – on the bearing, carrying or transporting of firearms or other deadly weapons and employment or engagement of the services of security personnel or bodyguards by the candidates;

No. 8728 – on instructions to the Chiefs of Police of cities/municipalities on the conduct of preliminary examination on the violation of the ban on firearms, other deadly weapons and security personnel;

No. 8729 – on the guidelines of the establishment of checkpoints and No. 8733 – on the matter of requesting the Honorable Secretary of the Dept. of Justice (DOJ) to assign prosecutors as members of a Special Task Force created by the Comelec to conduct investigation and prosecution of election offenses.

Also present during the conference were Atty. Renato A. Magbutay, Regional Elections Director, region 10, RJSCC Chairperson and the RJSCC members: P/Chief Supt. Danilo A. Empedrad, Regional Director, PNP-10, Maj. Gen. Romeo D. Lustestica, Commander, 1st Infantry Division, Philippine Army (11D, PA), Brig. Gen. Rolito G. Abad, Asst. Division Commander, 4ID, PA and their field officers. (Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob, Philippine Information Agency, region 10)


Feature: Mother’s refuge

IT is every woman’s dream to have a responsible husband and loving children once she has decided to settle down. Not fulfilled with such yearning would either make or break the woman’s guts to strive for a harmonious living.

Vicky G. Guaco, 31, a woman left alone with her four (4) children aged 12, eight (8), one (1) and a month by two (2) partners already, showed that she is one of those women who found strength from emotionally wrecking experiences.

Residing at Purok 2, Misum, Baliangao, Misamis Occidental, Vicky learned to raise her first two (2) children alone since her first husband, whom she was married for six (6) years, left her in 2003 when he got a job in Manila. At that time, the striving mother never hoped that there would be somebody else whom she can depend on.

Three (3) years after the separation, Vicky met a man who promised her good life especially to her children. She fell in love with the man and they were blessed with two (2) children. However, when Vicky was five (5) months heavy with her fourth child, the man suddenly left her.

According to Vicky, they had a lot of arguments while she was pregnant and it was better off that way since their fights only add up to her depressing situation. Again, she started her life anew and focused on giving the necessities of her children.

Fishing, getting seashells and leafy vegetables nearby were Vicky’s way of providing for her family since she only reached Second Year High School.

She usually earns P50 per day and because of this, giving birth to her fourth child was difficult to finance. “Walang-wala jud ko ato nga panahon. Kamulo ug sakit akong tiyan kay gahuna-huna pud ko unsa akong ibuhi sa mga bata labi na karon nga nadugangan na pud sila (I really had no money that time. When I was in labor, I was also thinking on how I can support my children especially now that they are already four of them),” Vicky shared emotionally.

During this time, Vicky’s parent leader visited her in the clinic and excitedly informed her that they will have their first cash grant from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

The 4Ps, a poverty reduction program that aims to improve the health, nutrition and education of the extremely poor households particularly of aged 0-14 by giving out conditional cash grants, serves as the government’s response to the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).

“Daku kaayo ang natabang sa 4Ps sa among pamilya. Kung wala pa’y 4Ps, dili gyud ko kabalo kung unsaon nako pagsulbad sa akong mga problema ato nga panahon kay lisud pa gyud para sa ako nga magtrabaho kay bag-o pa lang ko nanganak (4Ps is a really a big help to our family. If there is no 4Ps, I would never solve our problems during that time because it was really hard for me to work when I just gave birth to my fourth child),” she happily mentioned.

It was on August 2008 when Vicky became a beneficiary of 4Ps and since then, she has been receiving P1,100. With her meager earnings and the cash grant from the program, Vicky’s children, who are in Grades 6 and 3, now eagerly go to school with full stomachs and P5 allowance.

Gleaming with happiness Vicky said, “Nakakita ko ug dalangpanan sa 4Ps. Mas determinado na ko karon nga ipadayon ang kinabuhi maski wala’y asawa (I found refuge in 4Ps. I am now more determined to continue our life even without a husband on my side).” (Recthie B. Tolinero, DSWD X)