CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental– Lt. Gen. Oscar H. Rabena, Commanding General of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) has commended the 505th Search and Rescue Group (SRG) for its ability to maintain Operational Readiness Rate among all PAF units.
“This feat is made even more remarkable by the fact that the 505th SRG is also one of the busiest units of the PAF constantly responding to calls of distress and immediate deployment even in the high risk conditions of an ongoing natural disaster,” Rabena said in his message to the unit published in its “Angel” Magazine, December 2010 issue.
He said the 505th SRG, which uses the call sign “Angel” during rescue flights, is perhaps the most exposed unit of the PAF, as it has always been the first of its forces to respond to disasters and other natural calamities.
“They are those brave souls often seen on television and on national newspapers hanging by suspension cords from our search and rescue aircrafts and hauling victims of floods from roof tops and tree branches, which are only some of the most moving and inspiring of images,” he added.
In his commendation, the PAF Chief cited, among others, 505th SRG’s most significant achievements for 2010:
Conduct of a series of disaster relief operations, aerial evacuations and search for missing persons during Super Typhoon Juan in Cauyan , Isabela which was devastated by heavy rains resulting in flashfloods that placed all Luzon-based elements of 505th SRG on red alert status, October and November.
Medical evacuation from Davao City to Cebu City via Cagayan de Oro of one Mr. Te, who suffered from decompression sickness after a SCUBA dive in Davao, Oct. 24.
Search operation which yielded three (3) survivors who were picked up by chopper in the vicinity of Butauanan Island and spotting a deceased person floating in the vicinity of Calagus Island in Catanduanes province facing the Pacific Ocean towards the stretch of the coastal waters of Caramoan Peninsula going to Palumbanes Island, also in Catanduanes, July 16 Extrication, from underneath a 10-wheeler flat bed truck loaded with iron bars and other construction materials at the Southern Luzon Express (SLEX) Highway through the use of a crane, a forklift and a hydraulic jack, one Jefrry Caluna of Kalayan, Merville, Paraňaque, a motorcycle driver, who was brought to the PAF General Hospital for proper medical attention, March 12.
Another medical evacuation of four (4) personnel of the 69th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army (PA) who were critically wounded during an enemy engagement in the vicinity of Ginabuhatan, Paquibato District, Davao City and airlifting them to the Camp Panacan Station Hospital for medical treatment, also March 12. (Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob-PIA 10)
NorMin RDRRMC organizes 14 local DRRMC’s
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental– At least 13 former municipal and one (1) provincial disaster coordinating councils in Northern Mindanao have been formally reorganized into disaster risk reduction management councils (DRRMC), effective this year.
This figure represents only 13.97 percent of the region’s 85 towns, six (6) component and two (2) highly urbanized cities and 20 percent of its five (5) provinces, Regional Director Carmelito A. Lupo of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), region 10, said.
The organization/reorganization of local DRRMC’s had been a priority of the Regional DRRMC under its Civil Preparedness and Protection Program (CPPP) pursuant to Republic Act No. 101221 otherwise known as the “Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction Management Act of 2010,” Lupo said.
These reorganized local DRRMC’s are the following: Municipal DRRMC’s of Talakag in Bukidnon, Mambajao in Camiguin, Kauswagan, Tubod, Maigo and Linamon in Lanao del Norte, Tudela and Don Victoriano in Misamis Occidental and El Salvador, Alubijid and Medina of Misamis Oriental, the Provincial DRRMC of Lanao del Norte, the City DRRMC of Iligan and the Barangay DRRMC of Mapulog, Naawan Mis. Or.
Lupo said the RDRRMC also worked on the organization/reorganization of disaster control groups (DCGs) and disaster action teams (DATs) of the following hospitals, learning institutions and local government units (LGU):
Puerto Community Hospital, Sabal Hospital, Capitol University Medical City, Oro Christian Grace School, Kung Hua School & Xavier University Main Campus, all in Cagayan de Oro City.
All five (5) Provincial Hospitals in Lanao del Norte, the Lanao del Norte Provincial Government Center and Baroy, Kolambugan, Balo-i & Sultan Naga Dimaporo towns in Lanao del Norte.
Meanwhile, he said the conduct of disaster preparedness seminars (DPS) took the bulk of accomplishments under the CPPP of the RDRRMC-10, last year.
These trainings included the Disaster Risk Management Orientation and Contingency Planning Formulation, First Aid and Basic Life Safety, Earthquake Preparedness, among others.
He said participants of the DPS came from the nursing staff, security personnel and employees of hospitals, local government units and private agencies and nursing and criminology students from the different schools and private institutions of the region. (Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob-PIA 10)
Becoming An Angel
Cagayan de Oro City - When I received a call from my previous squadron commander at 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing asking for volunteers to transfer to the 505th Search & Rescue Group (SRG), I never hesitated.
I just couldn’t pass up this once-in-a lifetime opportunity to become an “Angel.” As posted in my face-book account, my fascination with Angels started when my wife referred to our two cute and beautiful daughters as “our angels.”
Joining the 505th SRG then literally meant myself becoming an “Angel” after the call sign used during rescue flights.
Flying tactical missions for more than five years had brought me a sense of personal accomplishment. I was living my dreams, having always wanted to become a pilot. Indeed, I meet a lot of people in this line of work who, like myself, are living out their dreams.
But I guess this is not enough. I have observed that most of those who are in a state of euphoria no longer have enough rooms to grow.
Most of those who stay too long in a certain unit have gone stagnant in the growth of their respective careers. It not only answered my personal dream of becoming an angel, it also opened me to other realities of flying.
Doing search and rescue missions is an effective tool for civil-military operations as we can literally display that the Philippine Air Force, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the government as a whole have a lot more to offer other than fighting the enemies of the state.
Last year’s calamities caused by Typhoons Peping and Ondoy were primary examples. It gave the populace a lot of hope and sighs of relief knowing that their military is not only committed in fighting wars but also in saving lives.
When there are no calamities, the Angels reach out to people through the different Search and Rescue Auxiliaries. The conduct of SAR trainings and the mutual sharing of techniques keep them vigilant and prepared whenever calamities strike.
Through this, both the Auxiliaries, and our organic personnel as well who conducted the trainings turn out prepared.
As a pilot, I personally look forward to performing the different SAR technique proficiency training. The different scenarios result to a myriad of different lessons that can be learned from, as no scenarios can be alike during actual emergencies.
Unlike in tactical missions where pilots take most of the credit in the success of the mission, here at the 505th SRG, the pararescuers are in the front scene. Their faces and efforts are more visible to the public rather than the pilots flying the helicopters.
Other significant differences arose. I got used to dealing only with my co-pilot and crew. Now that I fly as an Angel, I had to consider the opinion of the jumpmasters.
Another is flying as a single aircraft, as I have gotten used to flying as an element, that is, having two aircrafts performing the same mission.
Flying as an Angel is not only a realization of a dream for me. With the warm welcome I received from both officers and enlisted personnel, I really felt at home. It felt like I was not a new guy to them. Most importantly, joining the Angels has broadened my horizon about my flying career and has given me an opportunity to grow. (Capt. Roy Philip C. Aguhob, PAF-Adapted from the Angel Magazine, December 2010 issue)
Construction of Lake Lanao circumferential road underway
MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur- With the goal of accelerating development in Lanao del Sur, the construction of the 25.52-kilometer Lake Lanao Circumferential Road is currently underway.
According to the report presented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) during the recent Infrastructure Monitoring Advisory Group (IMAG) meeting sponsored by the provincial government, the contract package 2A of the project is 6.27 percent while the contract package 2B is 7.04 percent.
The road concreting under the contract package 2A which costs more than Php 308-M started on November 25, 2009. On the other hand, the work on the more than Php325-M contract package 2B started December 8 of the same year.
Contract Package 2A covers Marawi-Masiu-Bayang section while contract package 2B covers Bayang-Pualas-Marantao-Marawi section.
The Lake Lanao Circumferential Road project forms part of the three identified projects jointly funded by the Saudi Fund for Development and the Philippine Government under the Mindanao Road Map Project (MRIP).
The other projects under the MRIP included the construction of Contract Package 1A and 1B of Cotabato city East Diversion Road and Contract Package 3A and 3B of Basilan Circumferential Road. (EOR/Apipa Bagumbaran - PIA 10 Marawi city)
GEM-3 reports 13 active Barangay Infra projects in Lanao del Sur
MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur- The Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM)-3 reported that it has completed five (5) Barangay Infrastructure Projects (BIPs) in Lanao del Sur while eight (8) are in the bidding or design stage as of December 31, 2010.
The report recently presented to the members of the provincial Infrastructure Monitoring Advisory Group (IMAG) showed that it has constructed a barangay bridge in Bubong town, Gubar-Sawer footbridge in Masiu town, Dilabayan-Ilian slab bridge in Taraka town, as well as Kili-Kili East Bailey bridge improvement and Serran Village suspension footbridge in Wao town.
Eight (8) projects, on the other hand, are currently in the bidding or design stage namely the construction of Diolangan Barangay bridge in Bubong, upgrading of Butig water system, construction of Polo-Dilausan Barangay bridge in Ditsaan-Ramain, upgrading of Buad-Alog slab bridge in Lumbatan, construction of a suspension footbridges in Dilausan and Balagunun-Botud in Maguing and construction of Eastern Wao Trading Center and Christian Village Barangay bridge in Wao.
BIPs are small-scale infrastructure projects constructed to help increase economic growth in barangays. The cost of BIP ranges from Php200,000 to Php2-million.
Meantime, the report also showed that security is one of the constraints GEM-3 experienced during project implementation and construction.
Other concerns include delayed delivery or inadequacy of the counterpart contributions from local government units, environmental constraints such as raining and flooding, local interference such as extortion, fraud and conflict of interests, improper use or non-use of the facilities, and inadequate or lack of maintenance.
GEM-3 which began in 2008 is funded by the United States for International Development. It expands the work carried out under GEM 1 (1995-2002) and GEM 2 (2002-2007) operating throughout the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and other conflict-affected areas of Mindanao. (EOR/Apipa Bagumbaran - PIA 10 Marawi city)
CdeO nets P50.4M in tax payments as of Jan. 13
Cagayan de Oro City- The Business One-Stop Shop (BOSS) of Cagayan de Oro City collected P50,438,468 million in tax payments as of January 13, last week, noting an increase of 19.8 percent as compared to the same period last year, City Treasurer Lino D. Daral said.
In his business tax collection summary report, Daral expressed gladness that the tax payments during the period are more than P10 million over same period in 2010.
Retailers topped the collection list with P14,681,751 million followed by service establishments with P4,733,800 million and manufacturing with P4,205,016 million.
Rounding up the top 10 categories include tax collections from banks, P3,519,943 million; tax on real estate lessors, estate dealers, P3,176,216 million; wholesalers, dealers, distributors, P2,760,846 million; Mayor’s permit fee, P2,589,560 million; garbage fee, P2,357,850 million; certification fee, P2,149,349 million and occupation permit fee, P1,548,760 million.
The City Treasurer expects the city’s tax collection to zoom up as the deadline in the annual renewal of business permit registration draws near on the midnight of January 20, 2011.
As thousands of applicants rush to beat the deadline to avoid penalty, the City Treasurer’s Office established offsite collection centers in SM City Cagayan de Oro, Lim Ket Kai Mall, Gaisano Mall and Ororama Superstore-Cogon to accept tax payments and business permit applications.
Aside from the establishment of satellite collections centers, the Business One-Stop Shop at City Hall extended its operations up to 7:00 p.m. during regular working days until January 19, in order to accommodate more taxpayers and clients.
With the extension of its operations until nighttime, the City Treasurer urged all taxpayers to avoid the rush in filing their business permit applications by transacting earlier at the BOSS and offsite collection centers before deadline.
As mandated by law, appropriate penalties would be imposed against late filers, Daral reminded. (Ian A. Fuentes/CIO/PIA)
PESO places 4,496 job applicants
Cagayan de Oro City- The Public Employment Service Office successfully placed last year a total of 4,496 job applicants in local and overseas employment, according to PESO Officer-in-Charge Juvy B. Paza.
This is roughly 56% of the total number of applicants referred by the PESO for both local and overseas employment, including the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES), Paza noted in her annual accomplishment report to City Mayor Vicente Y. Emano.
Last year, the PESO facilitated the placement of some 3,373 regular jobseekers, 297 overseas workers and 826 students on summer job program.
Of the 11,462 registered applicants during the period, 9,295 are regular job applicants, 951 on overseas employment and 1,216 on the city government’s summer job program.
It also assisted 406 local establishments, 21 overseas employment agencies, mostly for Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, coordinated 20 job fairs, held 17 pre-employment orientation seminars, counseled 238 job applicants and issued employment certifications to 2,778 applicants in 2010.
The PESO is presently undertaking regular operations on its office at the 4th floor of City Hall. (Noel Moralde/CIO/PIA)
BAC acted 2,816 public assistance requests
Cagayan de Oro City- The round-the-clock Barangay Assistance Center (BAC) has acted upon a total of 2,816 various requests for assistance from poor residents last year.
BAC Manager Martin L. Rapanot, in his annual report to City Mayor Vicente Y. Emano, said that his office responded 682 requests for coffin assistance, 592 on burial transportation, 647 on other form of vehicle requests, 508 on embalming services and 387 on delivery of sand and gravel filling materials during the period. (Noel Moralde/CIO/PIA)
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