TRENDS (17 June 2010)

Nationwide simultaneous earthquake drill sked 9:00 a.m., June 18

Cagayan de Oro City (06/18/10) – This year’s 2nd Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill will be held on June 18 at 9:00a.m., along the theme “One Nation, One People, One Response.”

This is actually part of the four (4)-point action plan for disaster preparedness done specifically to perfect people’s reaction during and after an earthquake to prevent casualties, Carmelito Lupo, Regional Director of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in region 10, said.

For this particular activity, the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC) will join the Misamis Oriental Provincial DCC to do it at the Mis. Or. Provincial Capitol Compound, in the city.

The drill will showcase critical response operations within the “Golden Hour” principle during fire suppression, collapsed structure, search and rescue, high angle rescue and mass casualty incident management, among others.

Lupo, who is also the Executive Officer of RDCC-10, said the drill is now held on a quarterly basis in selected schools and government buildings of the region, to be able to guide our people on what to do and test their preparedness whenever an earthquake occur.

Meanwhile, a team composed of the Disaster Action Officers of RDCC-10 member agencies have been tasked to act as drill evaluators and record the responses to the following questions:

Was the siren/alarm loud enough for the drill participants to hear? How did they practice the “duck, cover and hold” technique while it was being sounded? Did they wait for the alarm to stop before evacuating to safe area?

Were they able to apply the buddy system and walked faster than normal or run, during the evacuation phase, follow the evacuation routes and did the “crouch and tuck head” technique when the second siren/alarm was sounded?

Did they stay in the evacuation area until the drill was terminated? Was the “checking of body for any sustained injury,” much less, head count done at the evacuation area?

“Any on-toward incident or problem observed during the drill must also be noted so they can be avoided in the succeeding exercises,” Lupo added. (Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob, Philippine Information Agency 10)


Feature: Lanao Norte: The Land of Milk, not MILF

For years, the province of Lanao del Norte has always been associated with conflict, with unstable peace and order situation, with MILF… a war-torn province…

But those who have visited the province could attest that the place is peaceful, and is fast booming, economically….

And did you know that one of the biggest milk processing plant is in Lanao del Norte, and that in five years time, Lanao del Norte would be the dairy capital of the Philippines?

One of the development priority programs of the present leadership in Lanao del Norte is giving livelihood opportunities to women. It is believed that empowered women become active partners in development.

A women’s group, the Rural Improvement Club (RIC) was organized in the province. Through the initiative of the Department of Agriculture-Provincial Agriculture Office, RIC members were extended assistance to start their livelihood activities. DA-PAO put up a livelihood center in Tubod town where women can display and sell their processed agricultural products.

On the other hand, Lanao Foundation, Inc. (LFI), in partnership with the Land O Lakes, is into dairy industry. The 700 heads cattle dairy farm in Bangaan, Sultan Naga Dimaporo produced 600 liters of milk daily. The Philippine Council for Agriculture Research and Development (PCARRD), an agency under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), assist the dairy farm in terms of capability building, dairy breeding and reproduction.

LFI linked with the women’s group by involving them into milk processing. The aim is for these women to grow further and can extend more opportunities to other women especially those who are not employed but are willing to go into selling/vending of milk products. The venture also aimed to improve the nutritional status of the children in the province.

Milk from the dairy farm were transported to the Tubod Livelihood Display Center and pasteurized. Milk products were plain fresh milk and fresh milk flavored with chocolate, melon and mango. These products were in 330 ml, 500 ml and 1,000 ml packaging. Some were in pouches of 100 ml and 200 ml. sizes. They also had pastillas and white cheese.

The milk products were distributed and sold in Tubod and the neighboring towns of Lala, Kolambugan, Baroy and Kapatagan. Accredited retailers in every municipality were also tapped for the promotion and distribution of the milk products.

Processing of the milk was done manually and the processed products had short shelf-life inasmuch as there was no appropriate processing equipment. With the manual milk pouch filling operation, there was no assurance of a safe, cleaner and milk packages. Production volume was also limited which was only about 300 liters per day.

As more cattle heads were imported and added to the dairy farm, there was substantial increased in milk production. The ample supply of milk moved LFI to put up a milk processing plant. Thus, in August 2007, LFI put up a milk processing plant and installed two units of automatic form, fill and seal machines for the filling and packing of fresh, pasteurized milk without any manual operation. The machines increased the production capacity to a maximum of 17,280 liters of milk in safe, hygienic 200 ml pouches per day with two-shifts operating.

The capacity building enhancement allowed LFI to get a milk supply contract awarded by the Provincial Government of Lanao del Norte to feed 1,800 pre-school kids for 120 days. However, due to short shelf-life, only the nearby areas were able to benefit from the school feeding program.

LFI, in partnership with the Land O Lakes Foundation, sought the assistance of DOSTin region 10 through its Small Enterprises Technology Assistance Program (SETUP). The technology intervention called for the ultra-high temperature (UHT) milk dairy processing or the retort production system.

In January 2008, the installation of the retort machines was completed. The retort machines added the production capacity of the processing and filling to 8,640 liters of sterilized milk per day, packed in 200 ml stand-up Doy pack pouches. The milk products are hygienically produced with a shelf-life of six months without refrigeration. This allows the products to be shipped to longer distances to capture the regional and national markets.

The processing plant has a processing capacity of 3,000 liters per hour and the retort machines can sterilize about 28,000 packs per day.

With the milk processing plan fully utilized, LFI was awarded with a 4M USD contract for the school milk feeding program of the government. The program targets 70,000 elementary pupils in Lanao del Norte. The program also extends to Lanao del Sur and Misamis Occidental areas involving 120,000 school children. The program is in partnership with the Department of Education (DEPED).

The program also reaches out to about 18,000 day care children, ages 2-6 and in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Starting January 2010, LFI has added two products to its line: the cheddar and cheese. The move is to cater to the A&B market and are mostly sold to Manila. By April, the cheese ageing and ripening rooms will be put up at the processing plant.

LFI has 35 workers; 20 works at the processing plant while the others are assigned at the administrative and security tasks. All workers come from within the community.

Asked what other technology intervention DOST can still be extended to LFI, plant manager Erwin Gelie was quick to say, “tests and analysis of our milk products, packaging and labeling, and spray drying…”

As their market share expands, LFI also wish to request for DOST’s training and consultancy assistance in the areas of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), Environmental Management System (EMS) and Manufacturing Productivity for Export (MPEX).

Engr. Geli also thanked DOST for the assistance it has extended to LFI.

“Within five years, milk will flow in Lanao Norte…,” Engr Gelie closed. (Tess Superioridad Baluyos / DOST 10)


MUST Prexy prods Math, English teachers to be strict yet caring on students

MAIN CAMPUS, CDO – At this start of first semester in tertiary education, faculty members are back on their toes.

In Mindanao University of Science and Technology particularly, the reason is not only to retain their jobs. It is also to help build the system that can make MUST indeed a premiere university in science and technology.

At its helm is budging MUST’s math instruction.

President Ricardo E. Rotoras himself convened all math instructors to remind them of the standard to uphold, that must likewise manifest care and attention on the future of the young generation.

Parents see students culled in MUST because they fail in math. Failing, as the president admits, is a responsibility for instructors to signal a repeat in taking the course. However, faculty members should also convince themselves, and the University they have done their best in teaching, before they pronounce the students failing.

At the president's prodding, these faculty were made to review their teaching methodologies to ensure students receive the best attention on their learning needs.

Likewise preparing for a more robust school year are the other instructors, especially those from the Department of Communication Arts, Languages and Literature. In tandem with math, they want that the students end up communicatively competent as well. They have prepared to raise the passing mark from 50 to 60 per cent, and have also identified teaching strategies that emphasize the strengthening of the students' language macro skills in reading, writing, speaking and listening.

Deportment, which is normally interpreted as the students’ attitude and behavior towards education, will also take its toll in depicting the University’s core values of moral uprightness, unselfish dedication, social responsibility and total quality management.

With the rising trend of unemployment in the country, MUST is competitively bracing up to groom smart and skilled young people who can face the challenges of the fast changing technological world. (MSMMM Press Release)


Lantapan celebrates 42nd foundation day

The Lantapan town in the province of Bukidnon will celebrate its 42nd Foundation day come June 12-18, 2010 with this year’s theme: “Maganda at Uunlad ang Bayan pag Matitino ang Nanunungkulan.”

Fitting to the theme, invited guests of honors are excitingly expected to come to include the Councilor Shalani Soledad of Valenzuela City for the June 18, 42nd Araw ng Lantapan and DILG Provincial Director of Bukidnon Ronelo P. Alvarez for the June 12, 112th Philippine Independence Day Celebration believed to be prime movers of dedicated good governance.

In a Memorandum Order No. 042, series 2010 dated June 7 of this year issued by the Mayor Godofredo I. Balansag, enjoins all national government employees, local government officials and employees, all barangay officials and concerned organizations to fully participate in the activities lined-up for the whole week’s affair.

Mayor Balansag in that memorandum said that a Wreath laying in honor of Dr. Jose P. Rizal will be done on June 12 as an opening of the 42nd Araw ng Lantapan and in observance of the 112th Philippine Independence Day Celebration after its kick-off activitiy thru a Pamuhat or ritual on June 11, to be initiated by Datu Adolino “Makapukaw” Saway, the Talaandig Tribal Chieftain at 3:00 o’clock in the afternoon at the Municipal Plaza and the basketball games to be participated in by inter-barangays being played every weekend and afternoon of the whole week.

Other lined up activities include: barangay exhibits, sports competition, Dance sport contest, cockfight, cheer dance competition, food handlers day, boxing at the park, NGO night, horse fight, barangay health workers day, search for Miss Little Lantapan and variety show.

The whole morning of June 18 will be a culmination program of which the invited guest speaker is Councilor Soledad of Valenzuela City, with the inspirations of dynamic outgoing governor of Bukidnon Jose Ma. R. Zubiri, Jr.

Meanwhile in the afternoon will be a closing program highlighting the awarding of winners for the various sports and dance competitions and will end up with a presentation from the invited artists, the Viva Hot Babes with Maui Taylor and Jessie Parker. (Lantapan Information Office)


Feature: COCPO’s fight against criminals

Keen observers would notice that since the attempt on the life of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Assistant Regional Director Bravo in region 10, several preventive measures have been initiated by the COCPO which includes the conduct of random checkpoint at the main thoroughfares of the city.

Based on the incidents in the past, it has been noted that perpetrators usually use (stolen) motorcycles.

In its serious effort to prevent and control the occurrence of crimes in the city, the Cagayan de Oro city Police Office has now tied up with other law enforcement agencies such as the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Roads and Traffic Administration (RTA).

With the conduct of random checkpoints coupled with police personnel scattered around the city whether as intelligence operatives or as foot or mobile patrollers, criminals would now have to think twice before doing anything wrong.

Though it may be quite premature to conclude, these checkpoints which usually focus on motorcycle riders coupled with the police personnel scattered around the city has achieved its target.

The occurrence of crimes such as robbery and the like has been minimized and several wanted persons are now behind bars.

Contrary to the past weeks of May wherein occurrence of crimes are reported almost everyday, news being released thru the tri-media are now more on the apprehension of suspects thru the implementation of warrants of arrest or thru pro-active police operations.

With the police being one of the five pillars of the criminal justice system doing its job and the community and the other pillars of the criminal justice system doing their own share, we could be assured that Cagayan de Oro will really be remembered as “The City of Golden Friendship.” (PNP 10 Press Release)


Oro Chamber rallies business community on wage petition

In response to the wage hike petition lodged by the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines before the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board in region 10, the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. (Oro Chamber) conducted a quick survey among its member companies and enterprises.

The survey sought to establish members’ position on the wage increase, especially in view of the impact of the lingering Mindanao power crisis.

Oro Chamber is not opposed to any adjustment in the region’s wage rates. It, however, cautions that the increase should be reasonable, equitable and timely and must consider the conditions of the enterprises and companies in the area.

Notable among the adverse impact to the business community has been the looming Mindanao Power crisis that threatens to erode the gains of businesses and put employment and livelihood at risk due to declining revenues and higher expenditures and reduced production time due to reduced working hours.

Oro Chamber President Ralph Paguio is encouraging all the employers to attend the wage consultation set on June 18.

“It will be the best venue to hear the insights and circumstances of the labor, government and employer sectors,” he said.

The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB)-sponsored wage consultation for region 10 is slated on June 18 at 1:00-5:00pm at Grand Caprice Restaurant, this city. (Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Press Release)


DILG starts training for newly-minted mayors

Done in two clusters, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, with its training arm, Local Government Academy, started the orientation training for the newly elected or newly-minted local chief executives (LCEs) for the second component of the Newly Elected Officials (NEO) program of the Department.

Over 25 newly-minted municipal mayors joined other mayors of Mindanao in Apo View Hotel, Davao City last June 14 to 18, 2010 for the said seminar-workshop on NEO program’s Component 2: Laying the Foundation, from which falls Track 1-A or My First 100 Days in Office.

Track 1A or My First 100 Days in Office is a run-down on the critical steps for the First 100 Days in Office of the relatively inexperienced newly-minted local chief executives. They will be oriented on the specific tasks and responsibilities as required by their positions. After the said seminar, the mayors are expected to prepare a “development roadmap” for their respective LGUs.

On the other hand, Provincial Governors are expected to attend same seminar on Track 1A or My First 100 Days in Office on June 24-25, 2010 at Kimberly Hotel, Tagaytay City.

For the City Mayors, the Leagues of Cities scheduled separate orientation training for the mayors of both highly-urbanized cities (HUC) and component cities on June 17-18, 2010 at Makati City.

Soon, these mayors from HUC, component cities and municipalities will undergo Track 1-B or Knowing my LGU. This course focuses on the presentation of the state of local governance report, state of development report and financial capacity in their respective LGUs. Said mayors will also be oriented on Track 2 or Fine Tuning My Competencies, a venue for peer-based sharing of innovative ways of tackling the duties and responsibilities of local officials through their respective leagues.

NEO program was designed to come up with harmonized and holistic Comprehensive Development Program-Executive Legislative Agenda (CDP-ELA) with a capacity development delivery mechanism for the LGUs. It hopes to bring about a cadre of development-oriented newly-elected officials (both newcomers and re-elected) who are able to translate local development roadmap that promotes local economic development in their communities.

The first component of NEO program was on Ensuring Smooth Transition, which was on the smooth transition of powers and authorities from the outgoing to the incoming local officials.

Two more components under the NEO program are the a) Building Alliances, which output shall be a Provincial Development Roadmap which identifies the common points of collaboration and cooperation of the cities and municipalities to bring about development in the province; and b) Sharpening the Saw, a market-driven program where LGUs match their requirements with the existing capacity development services and training packages.

DILG-10 Regional Director Loreto T. Bhagwani said that based on the statistics from the regional and field offices, out of 93 city and municipal mayors in the Region, 50 are newly-elected (30 are newcomers and 20 are returning mayors), while 43 are re-elected,” Bhagwani said.

He added that through the NEO program, the department is ready to help and assist the local officials by equipping them with sufficient knowledge to prepare them for their duties and responsibilities and define their development roadmaps. (DILG Press Release)


Region 10 has more newly-elected officials in the political arena

Region 10 has more newly-elected local officials than the re-elected ones.

According to DILG-10 Regional Director Loreto T. Bhagwani, based on the statistics from the regional and field offices, there are 354 or 52.7% newly elected local officials compared to 318 or 47.3% who are reelectionists.

“Out of 93 city and municipal mayors in the region, 50 are newly-elected (30 are newcomers and 20 are returning mayors), while 43 are re-elected,” Bhagwani said.

He added that through the NEO program, the department is ready to help and assist the local officials by equipping them with sufficient knowledge to prepare them for their duties and responsibilities and define their development roadmaps. (DILG Press Release)


GSIS inks partnership with Aboitiz Transport

The Government Service Insurance System adds more value to its eCard with its newest partnership.

The state-run pension fund has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Aboitiz Transport System Corporation (ATS), giving its members and pensioners a 20 percent discount on top of the prevailing promo fares of Superferry, Supercat, and Cebu Ferries.

To avail of the discount, GSIS members and pensioners would have to simply present their eCard at any ATS corporate office or branch nationwide. The qualified member or pensioner is allowed to purchase a maximum of five (5) tickets for every transaction.

The GSIS empowers its eCard through partnership with various institutions. Using the GSIS eCard, a member or pensioner can already avail of hospitalization discounts in GSIS partner hospitals, a partial scholarship grant at any STI campus nationwide, and up to 55 percent off on selected Pfizer-manufactured drugs.

The GSIS eCard is a multi-purpose card that functions as an ATM card, a transaction card, and a debit card, among others. Recently, the GSIS eCard has also transformed into a Unified Multi-Purpose ID (UMID)-compliant eCard.

A unique feature of the UMID-compliant eCard is the Common Reference Number (CRN), which shall be linked to the ID numbers of the Social Security System (SSS), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG).

With the CRN, the UMID-compliant eCard will serve as a valid identification card not only for GSIS but also for SSS, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG.

“Our partnership with ATSC reflects our commitment to bringing more benefits to our members and pensioners through our eCard. Now our members and pensioners can travel to various destinations or visit their families more often at less cost,” GSIS President and General Manager Winston F. Garcia said.

“We hope to have more tie-ups of this kind in the future to better serve our stakeholders,” Garcia added.

ATS is the only integrated transport solutions provider in the Philippines today. Its principal business units are engaged in the movement of people operating under the brand name "SuperFerry", "SuperCat", and "Cebu Ferries" and the movement of cargos operating under the brand name "2GO".

The company’s array of services geared towards cargo movements includes containerization, RoRo services, logistics and supply chain solutions. The company also provides ship management and manpower solutions worldwide under the Aboitiz-Jebsen group of companies.

It is majority-owned by Aboitiz Equity Ventures (AEV), one of the largest and most diversified publicly listed corporations in the country with business interests spanning in various industries such as power, banking, food production, property development, construction, shipbuilding, and leisure/resort.

ATS currently has a total of 18 fleets, which includes seven fastcrafts operating under Supercat, five Superferries, 4 passenger vessels under Cebu Ferries, and two freighters. (GSIS Press Release)


GSIS allays concerns on survivorship benefit policy

To address any misconception from some members on the survivorship benefit policy of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), the pension fund has clarified that said policy is not a new ruling but rather a compliance with the provisions of an already existing law.

According to GSIS Chief Legal Counsel Atty. Estrella Elamparo, the removal of the survivorship benefit to spouses or secondary beneficiaries who are employed in the government or private sector, self-employed, or receiving other pension from the GSIS, Social Security System, or another local of foreign institution or organization is in accordance with the provision on survivorship benefits as provided for in Republic Act 8291, otherwise known as the GSIS Act of 1997.

“In order to receive the survivorship benefits, the legitimate surviving spouse must be dependent upon the member or pensioner for support or the secondary beneficiary should not be gainfully employed or engaged in any gainful activity immediately before the death of the member,” she said.

Based on section 2, paragraph (g) of R.A. 8291, primary beneficiary is defined as “the legal dependent spouse until he/she remarries and the dependent children.”

On the other hand, paragraph (f) of the same section defines dependents as “the legitimate spouse dependent for support upon the member or pensioner; the legitimate, legitimated, legally adopted child, including the illegitimate child, who is unmarried, not gainfully employed, not over the age of majority, or is over the age of majority but incapacitated and incapable of self-support due to a mental or physical defect acquired prior to age of majority; and the parents dependent upon the member for support.

“Being ‘dependent’ and ‘not gainfully employed’ are explicit conditions provided by R.A. 8291 for the entitlement of beneficiaries to GSIS survivorship benefits,” said Atty. Elamparo.

Gainful occupation refers to any productive activity that provided the member with income at least equal to the minimum compensation of government employees.

The GSIS has also cited a Supreme Court decision, which reiterated this requirement of the law. In the said case, the Court denied a contested application for survivorship pension, saying that “in order to be entitled to the Survivorship Benefits under RA 8291, the beneficiary must be dependent upon the GSIS member or pensioner for support.”

“The GSIS was created to provide benefits to its members and pensioners. It will not hesitate to provide benefits to qualified dependents of contributors of the funds, as long as they are really entitled to it by law,” she added. (GSIS Press Release)


Important Luna painting continues to draw crowd in GSIS museum

Eight years after it was acquired by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), the famous Juan Luna painting, the “Parisian Life,” still enjoys a rock star status in the GSIS museum, drawing a crowd of about 200,000 visitors yearly.

GSIS Museo ng Sining Manager Ryan Palad said while the GSIS Museum has been in existence for a decade and a half, it was only after when the Parisian Life was added in its collection in 2002 that the museum attained a new-found fame.

“Perhaps it was the controversy. Or perhaps it is by word of mouth that people came to realize how significant this Luna masterpiece is, not only as a part of Philippine art, but of the country’s history in general,” Palad said.

Curiously, most of the Parisian Life visitors are not art critics or collectors, but students from different levels, both from public and private schools.

Palad said it is understandable how students are easily drawn to the painting; it is, after all, an artwork not only done by a national hero but also one that shows important people in Philippine history.

The painting features three personages that influence the course of Philippine history; Jose Rizal who became our national hero; Luna himself, who also painted the internationally acclaimed Spoliarium; and Ariston Bautista Lin, who supported the propaganda and Katipunan Movement.

“It is comparable to Renoir’s 1880 ‘Luncheon of the Boating Party’ where the artist painted his friends in their light moments,” Palad said.

The Parisian Life Painting won a silver medal in the 1904 St. Louis Exposition. It was also Luna’s transition painting from realism to impressionism.

Parisian Life hogged the headlines in 2002 when the GSIS acquired it for P46 million in an auction held in Christie’s Auction House in Hongkong. The money was sourced from the investible funds of the GSIS for insuring government properties—not from the benefit funds of its members, Palad said.

While various groups praised the GSIS for “rescuing” the Parisian Life and bringing it back to Philippine shore, militant groups and politicians criticized this acquisition. GSIS President and General Manager Winston F. Garcia was even slapped with a complaint before the Ombudsman for it.

In charging the GSIS officials of violation of the anti-graft and corrupt practices act, militant groups cited a resolution of the Commission on Audit disallowing the purchase.

However, in May 2008, the Ombudsman dismissed the complaint, saying no "undue injury" was inflicted on the government because the items purchased "are right there in the hands of the GSIS and duly accounted for."

The Ombudsman also disputed the claim of the COA in the Notice of Disallowance that the price paid for the paintings were exorbitant, adding there is “no competent basis” for this.

The complainants appealed the case. Last year, however, the Court of Appeals affirmed the decision of the Ombudsman. (GSIS Press Release)