TRENDS (24 June 2010)

OWWA resumes ‘Balik-Mangagawa’ processing center, satellite office in Iligan city

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Regional Welfare Office in Northern Mindanao announced the resumption of Balik-Manggagawa Processing Center and OWWA Satellite Office in Iligan City.

The services include issuance of Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) to those vacationing OFWs or Balik-Manggagawa and payment of OWWA Membership Fee.

In addition to the Balik-Manggagawa processing, the center will also cater to inquiries related to OWWA's Programs and Services.

OFWs who intend to process their OEC shall bring their valid passport with un-expired re-entry working visa, roundtrip plane ticket and previous OWWA Receipt.

The center is located at DOLE-Iligan City Field Office, fronting Philippine Veterans Bank, Mahayahay, Iligan City and will hold office every Tuesday from 08:00 am to 05:00 pm.

The center is expected to cater Balik-Manggagawa OFWs from Iligan City, Western Part of Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Sur, Zambonga del Norte and Sur and the cities of Oroquieta, Ozamiz, Tangub, Marawi, Pagadian and Dipolog. (Eugene B. Mesias / OWWA 10)


Malaybalay health office raises dengue alarm

Malaybalay City, Bukidnon (24 June) --With the onset of the rainy season, the City Health Office (CHO) intensifies its drive against dengue through the “Four S (4S) campaign as cases increased this year.
City Health Officer Dr. Dennis Sangalang said that the surveillance report showed 61 dengue cases, with two deaths, from January to May alone. This is higher by almost 30 percent compared to the number of cases in the same period last year.
He has detailed the 4S campaign, which are: Search and destroy mosquito breeding places; Self-protection through use of mosquito nets and wearing of long sleeve shirts and pants; Seek early consultation and treatment if symptoms persist; and Say no to indiscriminate fogging.
Malaybalay City Mayor Florencio Flores Jr., who led the 4S campaign, said the reasons why the cases persisted in spite of these measures were the public’s reliance on the fogging activities that were supposed to be just a temporary measure.
Fogging involves the spraying of certain chemical, which causes mosquitoes to transfer to another site. This however does not totally eradicate the mosquitoes or their larvae.
Day-biting mosquitoes called aedes aegypti cause dengue hemorrhagic fever and aedes albopictus that commonly thrive on clean, stagnant waters that are stored in roof gutters, flower vases, empty cans, bottles, old rubber tires and water containers at home.

These mosquitoes are most active two hours after sunrise and two hours before sunset, or between 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

They are of the low-flying type, flying only about two feet high, thus, most of those infected with dengue are children.
“Its signs and symptoms include joint and muscle pain, abdominal pain, skin rashes, pain behind the eyes, high fever that may last to seven days, and nose-bleeding when fever starts to subside,” said Dr. Marcille Orong, who heads the Dengue Fever Management Plan.

Mayor Flores, who is also a proficient physician, likewise urged families and households to practice the "four o'clock habit" as an effective way to drive away dengue-carrying mosquitoes.
The "four o'clock habit" involves the burning of twigs and dried leaves and the cleaning of possible breeding places of dengue-carrying mosquitoes at four o'clock in the afternoon.

Along the theme “Kapaligiran Linisan, Dengue ay Iwasan,” the City Health Office urged barangay officials and residents to take precautions. Cleaning up the surroundings and disinfecting possible breeding places for mosquitoes remain to be the best way to combat dengue fever. (Ruby Leonora R. Balistoy / PIA Bukidnon)


PNP steers up grade schoolers as Junior Heroes

Iligan City—It may be at home, in school, and in the community, the new Junior Heroes will be performing its deeds for a better Mindanao.

Thus explained Inspector Cheryl Valderama of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Lanao del Norte Provincial Police Office to the pupils of the Tambo Elementary School in the town of Munai, province of Lanao del Norte, who took their oath of commitment as ‘Junior Heroes’.

All come from Grade 5 and 6 levels, the 152 pupils of Tambo School, including the 121 pupils of Tacub Elementary School from the municipality of Kauswagan, this province, have pledged their commitment as ‘Junior Heroes’ in a separate venue at their respective villages.

This is a school-based program of the PNP which aimed at uplifting the literacy rate of pupils on crime prevention, said Valderama.

She added, they will be our partners in the call for peace in the community, as we instill to them to be good citizens, showing their love of country and to their parents, and a God-fearing individuals.

Also, they shall be ‘watchdog’ against use of illegal drugs, expressed Valderama in her message addressing the attentive Junior Heroes of both schools.

The Junior Heroes program is in tandem with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), through the Philippine Army (PA) of the 15th Infantry Battalion (IB) and the 601st Brigade.

School supplies like coloring books, pencils, ballpens, bag pack, crayons, notebooks were distributed to the newly installed junior heroes, while the school’s principal received a dozen copies of elementary dictionary for use at the library and for each classroom.

These supplies were donated by the U.S. Military Information Support Team, Task Force Mindanao, represented by Sgt. CJ Rueda, team leader and coordinator of the said activity.

Capt. Elmar Dalope of army’s 601st Brigade discussed the coloring book issued to the Junior Heroes, entitled Mundong Walang IED (A World without Improvised Explosive Devise), the message of which for the children to be alert of their surrounding and strangers inhibiting the area, and to help maintain the surrounding clean, to avoid improper disposal of garbage where it could be a strategic place for bomb disposal.

And as Junior Heroes, they may contact the proper authorities for any assistance needed as the situation calls for it, said Dalope.

Representing the 15th infantry battalion was 1Lt. Dalven Rey Avila, based at Delabayan, Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte. (Lorry V. Gabule / PIA LDN)


NGCP launches “Balik Eskwela”

More than 73,000 elementary students from 174 public schools in selected barangays nationwide received school supplies this month from the “Balik Eskwela” project of the National grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).

The privately-owned power transmission utility and system operator selected the schools from the thousands of barangays throughout the country where transmission towers, lines, substations and other NGCP facilities are located.

Direct beneficiaries are thousands of elementary public school students who each received a school bag with 10 notebooks and 3 pencils.

Distribution of school supplies began on June 15, 2010, the first of the new school year.

Ceremonial handover programs were held simultaneously today in the following areas: North Luzon (Pila, Laoag City), South Luzon (Bibincahan, Sorsogon and Oas, Albay), Visayas (Gov. Jaro, Tacloban) and Mindanao (Cabligan, Davao; Jasaan and Aplaya, Misamis Oriental).

“Balik Eskwela” aims both to support students and their families who may not afford to provide for a few school supplies and also to ensure the safety of children and other residents living in communities near transmission facilities.

To help minimize the incidence of electrocution, and/or pilferage of tower and line parts in communities, NGCP volunteers at the “Balik Eskwela” activities educated the children, teachers and some parents on line safety and security. The distributed notebooks carry similar information and reminders from NGCP.

NGCP is counting on the support of its partners in the power industry as well as residents and officials of host communities to ensure reliable and safe electricity is delivered to all its customers.

Residents near transmission facilities are encouraged to help monitor and protect the towers and lines from theft and pilferage, which make the system vulnerable to power outages, as well as to observe established right-of-way easement areas to prevent grassfires, forest fires, electrocution and other accidents.

NGCP said all measures are being done to ensure that transmission lines, substations and other facilities across the country are in good condition and able to deliver whatever power is available from the generating plants. The corporation operates 19,425 circuit-kilometers of high-voltage transmission and sub-transmission lines and 23,853 mega volt amperes of substation capacity in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. (National Grip Corporation of the Philippines Press Release)


More farmers’ information centers installed in region 10

Farmers in the region have more chances of easy access to agricultural information and services. This is brought about by additional four Farmers Information and Technology Services (FITS) centers established in region 10.

Camiguin has the highest number of such centers established lately. Mambajao now has two FITS centers, one is being managed by the provincial local government unit while the other one is under the municipal government unit.

The PLGU-run FITS center in Mambajao has been functional for more than two years now and its focused commodity is lanzones, as expected. The Provincial FITS center will oversee the operations of the newly-established municipal FITS centers and the incoming FITS centers in the remaining municipalities of Guinsiliban and Catarman. The other two newly-launched FITS centers in Camiguin, both managed by the municipal local government unit, are in Sagay and Mahinog. Selection process of the centers’ Magsasakang Siyentista (MS) and their focus commodity is on-going.

Misamis Oriental, on the other hand, has an additional one FITS Center, based in Medina. With the new set of LGU officials in Medina, the FITS center will be then an important component of the extension services of the said municipality.

The other FITS Center in Misamis Oriental is in Gingoog City.

A FITS Center is one of the four component modalities of the Tekno Gabay Program of the Philippine Council for Agriculture Resources Research and Development (PCARRD), an agency of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

In region 10, it is implemented by the Northern Mindanao Consortium for Agriculture Resources, Research and Development (NOMCARRD), a member research and development network of PCARRD-DOST.

FITS Centers are established through the expressed need of the Local Government Units to improve farmers’ productivity and income through an efficient and effective access to a variety of information in appropriate format easily understandable to the end users. Information services are related to agriculture, forestry and natural resources.

The establishment of FITS Centers all over the country aims to empower the farmers, processors, traders and entrepreneurs by making information and technology services accessible.

Available services at the FITS Center are print materials, audio-video tapes and a database of technology information. There is also an Internet access, exhibits of new technology, products and services, production and dissemination and sale of information/education/communication (IEC) materials. Other services include technology clinic, technology training, technical advisory and consultancy, client linkaging with agricultural experts and financial institutions, and technical assistance on enterprise development.

To date, there are 27 FITS Centers in the region and about 631 established all over the Philippines and more new elected LGU officials signified their interest. (Tess Superioridad Baluyos / DOST 10)


SPES 2010 benefits 150 youth in Lanao del Norte

Tubod, Lanao del Norte – In consonance with the Republic Act No. 7323, which help the less fortunate but deserving students pursue their education by employing them during summer vacation, Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) was implemented in the Provincial Government which benefited one hundred fifty (150) students and out-of-school youth from the province.

SPES is a program initiated by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and is coordinated with the local government units and among other stakeholders.

Further, SPES beneficiaries are being paid with minimum salary wage of P150/day, 60 percent of is supposed to be paid by the employer/LGU and the other 40 percent was DOLE’s counterpart.

Luckily this year, Gov. Khalid Q. Dimaporo shouldered the entire 100 percent salary of the SPES beneficiaries.

For this year, there were 150 qualified beneficiaries who have been screened by PESO in-charge Evelyn Lopez. Said beneficiaries were assigned in the different offices at the provincial capitol and various tasks were given to them to ensure learning and definitely gained working experiences.

This program is open to all qualified high school, college, vocational students or drop-outs who intend to continue their education with at least 15-25 years old. And with parents’ combined net income does not exceed P 36, 000 per annum.

The pursuance of attaining accessible education in the province of Lanao del Norte is one of the topmost priorities of Gov. Khalid Q. Dimaporo to achieve Vision 2020. (ARMS/PIO-LDN)


NARS beneficiaries fetes PGMA

As President Arroyo looks forward to a quieter public role in the coming week, supporters cannot help but commend her for a job well done.

Jofinni Pabillore, a registered nurse from Camiguin, lauded the president for extending jobs to new nurses. She said the Nurse Assigned in the Rural Service (NARS) program helped a lot of jobless nurses in the country.

She added that the opportunity to work in rural health units or hospitals enhanced her learning in proper health care delivery.

Sheryl C. Sacal, who now works in one of the private hospital in Cagayan de Oro City, said the program trained them to become globally competitive as well.

Phoebe Kate T. Chaves, on another hand, encouraged students to work hard and get their courses done. She said government programs are in place to assists graduates land easy on their desired jobs.

Such were the words from the young nurses in the remote province of Camiguin, an island, small as it is still felt the gains enumerated by PGMA during her term.

In her farewell message last night, PGMA highlighted on her economic achievements and move to raise taxes in order to provide better healthcare, education, and create more jobs.

She challenged new leaders to build not just iron and steel bridges but those that rest on hard work, grace and compassion to the Filipino people. (PIA-10)


Camiguin exec thanks PGMA

Governor Jurdin Jesus M. Romualdo expressed his gratitude to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for helping Camiguin hurdle the challenges of the province during her presidency.

Such as the rice shortage with the delivery of adequate supply distributed down to the barangay level via Tindahan Natin outlets, as well as the “Katas ng Value-added tax (VAT)” power subsidy to qualified electric power consumers in the province.

During her term, the President took time out from her hectic schedule to join Camiguingnons in their annual festivities such as the lanzones festival and agro-industrial trade fair and help boost the province’s tourism and agricultural industries.

As she ends her term, the President urged, “I call on everyone to unite behind our new leaders. I am optimistic and I am hopeful about our future yet until every Filipino child is born to a family free of poverty, we cannot rest.” (PIA-10)


Ex-rebels express appreciation to gov't for FMR project

Forty-five former rebels who are now better known as 'Kauban sa Reporma' (KR) in Visayan, thanked the Philippine Army and the government for the "Kalayaan sa Barangay Program" (KBP) farm to market road project in Canangaan, Cabanglasan town.

Junior Mangaring Tilucan, former rebel commander said his comrades are now proud to have returned to the fold of the law.

"I almost lost everything because of what I fought for, and so I decided to yield to authorities. And now we are glad because through this road project, we are able to secure enough food in the village and save time and transport cost in carrying our farm products to the traders," Tilucan said in Visayan dialect.

Major General Mario Chan, commander of the army's 4th Infantry Division said the project that costs P4.5 million with a length of 6 kilometers under the KBP road project seeks to address the immediate needs of conflict-affected communities.

"Kalayaan sa Barangay Program" is a national government's peace building initiative intended to alleviate the living condition of the farmers in far-flung villages," Chan said.

The program, conceptualized in year 2005, hopes to bring peace and development in the poorest rural and conflict-affected villages in the country.

In her farewell message, President Gloria Macapaga-Arroyo said, “From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for giving me the honor and privilege of serving you.” (PIA-10)


Lanao residents grateful to President Arroyo for her social programs

Islamic City of Marawi (24 June)—Residents of Lanao del Sur are thankful to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for all the programs and projects undertaken by her administration to spur development in the province.

Provincial Governor Mamintal ‘Bombit’ Alonto Adiong, Jr. said the province is one of the beneficiaries of social services programs of the government.

He cited that the programs include the monthly stipends for the elderly more known as the Katas ng VAT, Pera Para kay Lolo at Lola; the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps for the marginalized families through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD); school feeding program of the Department of Education (DepEd), free vaccination of the Department of Health (DOH); and Pangulong Gloria Scholarships (PGS) through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

Tarhata Tarosan, a Pangulong Gloria Scholarships (PGS) beneficiary expressed gratitude to the President for extending scholarship slots in Lanao del Sur.

“I am thanking President Arroyo for coming-up with this scholarship program and giving us the chance to improve and enhance the quality of our lives,” she said.

In addition, Salam Maraki, one of the 4Ps beneficiaries, also extended thanks to the President because 4Ps gave her a chance to send her children to school and to the health center for regular check-up.

“My husband is a farmer and the amount he earns is not sufficient for our daily expenses. But with the 4Ps, we were able to buy school supplies and clothes for our children. (Apipa P. Bagumbaran / PIA-Marawi)


PGMA has visited far-flung Lanao Sur towns during her term

Islamic City of Marawi (24 June)–Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is the only President who have visited remote towns in Lanao del Sur and made huge investments in infrastructure and social projects to sustain peace and improve the lives of its residents.

During her visit in the town of Taraka alone, she inaugurated the town’s P3.5-million public market and led the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of its P30-million potable water system project of Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA).

In Masiu town, the President inaugurated the three-storey municipal hall and led the groundbreaking ceremony of the P8-million potable water system project there.

President Arroyo also allocated a P20-million modern water system in Ganassi town.

Her other projects included the Rognan River Irrigation System in Taraka and Malaig Irrigation Project in the town of Butig both designed to boost the town’s farm productivity.

In her Lumbatan town visit, she witnessed the signing memorandum of agreement between the National Nutrition Council (NNC) and the Department of Health in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DOH-ARMM) to institutionalize the fight against hunger and malnutrition in the region.

Provincial Governor Mamintal 'Bombit' Alonto Adiong Jr. expressed gratitude to President Arroyo for all the programs and projects undertaken by her administration to spur positive growth in the province.

He said the President has allocated funds for infrastructure development particularly farm-to-market roads, public markets, and irrigation systems that provided means for farmers to be more productive ensuring food security in the province. (Apipa P. Bagumbaran / PIA-Marawi)


Misamis Oriental thank PGMA for FIELDS program

One farmer, Eunemesio Merencillo, who owns a 10-hectare rice field, thank President Gloria-Macapagal-Arroyo because of the FIELDS program.

“The FIELDS has helped us a lot. Prior to availing of this program, we didn't have sufficient yield," he said in the vernacular.

He later said that their harvests have high potential because they produce their own organic fertilizers.

"Our income has also increased. We get a gross profit of 80,000 to 120,000 every harvest, that's every three months," he added.

On March 17, 2008, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo visited the rice fields of Barangay Blanco in Balingasag town, Misamis Oriental province to personally oversee the effective and efficient implementation of the government's rice production program.

The rice field in Barangay Blanco is one of the beneficiaries of DA's FIELDS (fertilizer, irrigation and infrastructure, extension and education services, loan assistance, dryers and other postharvest facilities, seeds) program.

FIELDS is a package of intervention measures unveiled by President Arroyo pursuit of her commitments on food sufficiency and security.

The President, in her farewell message, said through hard work, determination and a clear plan of action, we helped achieved many of our objectives. (PIA-10)


Bukidnons thank PGMA for upgrading, concreting of Bukidnon provincial roads

"Thank you... we've got it this time. Salamat (Thanks) President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo," San Fernando town Mayor Levi Edma said of the concreting of 70.53 km Kapalong-Talaingod-Valencia Bukidnon road, passing through his town going to Davao province.

"Tungod ani nga proyekto, mas nakaganansya na mi ug dako-dako kung magbaligya mi sa among abot sa uma kay gamay nalang among gabayaran sa trucking," Salamat President Gloria Arroyo (Because of this road project, we have more profits than before since freight cost is reduced. Thank you President Gloria Arroyo)," said Bambi Segunla, a vegetable farmer in Barangay Sto. Domingo, San Fernando town.

"The trip usually takes about 5 hours from San Fernando using the Valencia-Dologon-Quezon, Bukidnon-Davao route. But since this road network is completed, a 2-hour travel is enough to go shopping to Davao del Norte. We therefore have our holiday business trips faster than before with no delays on the beltway," Mayor Edma added.

On the other hand, Valencia City Mayor Leandro Jose Catarata thanked President Arroyo on the upgraded Sayre Highway-Colonia-Valencia-Lumbo Road Section and the construction of Batangan Bridge and Approaches across Bukidnon Pulangui River in San Fernando-Valencia City junction.

Bukidnon Governor Jose Ma. Zubiri Jr. said President Arroyo's major infrastructure projects in the province include the construction/concreting of Bukidnon-Davao Road, Buda Maramag Section; Maramag-Kibawe-Kabacan Road, Pinamaloy-Damulog Section; Davao-Bukidnon Road, Calinan-Buda Section; Bukidnon-Davao Road, Dologon, BUSCO-Quezon Section; Misamis Oriental-Bukidnon By-Pass Road; Bukidnon-Cagayan de Oro Road, Puerto-Alae Section and the Aglayan-Zamboanguita Road in Upper Pulangui zone.

These "Daan sa Kinabukasan" road network projects are just few of the many realized / delivered infrastructure programs of President Arroyo.

The President said we needed new and better roads, bridges, ports and a technology backbone to attract new businesses and investors to create new jobs. (PIA-10)