PIA-10 News (01 February 2011)

TF BAMBOO 3E starts bamboo tree planting along river banks in NorMin
by Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental - Task Force Best Action for Mobilizing Barangay Organizations for Opportunities in Education, Environment and Entrepreneurship (BAMBO 3E) has been formed in Northern Mindanao.

Described as a multi-sectoral approach to enhance environmental education and entrepreneurship formation among children, BAMBOO 3E aims to address the concern on climate change by the elementary, secondary and tertiary schools of the region.

The said task force advocates for bamboo to be planted along the riverbanks because of its potential for preventing soil erosion and entreprenueral value to the students,” Regional Director Luz Almeda of the Dept. of Education (DepEd), region 10, said.

“We want to start them young in taking care of the environment by educating them how to plant trees, grow them and then develop their entrepreneural skills using the bamboo as a means to sustain their lives,” she said.

The composition of TF BAMBOO 3E and their respective tasks is as follows: DepEd, as Chair, provides manpower for the planting and growing of the bamboo seedlings into trees and making the tree guards to ensure their growth from destructive animals.

Dept. of Science and Technology (DOST), as Vice-Chair, provides the technology for the processing of the bamboo trees into school furniture, such as, school desks, blackboards, book shelves, book stands, book ends, etc.

Dept. of Interior and Local Government (DILG), in coordination with the local government units (LGU), identifies the planting areas, coordinates with the land owners and the nearby riverbanks to secure protection and maintenance of the bamboo growing process.

Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Dept. of Agriculture (DA) for technical assistance in procurement of seedlings and tree growing.

Also included in the TF are the Dept. of Tourism (DOT), Dept. of Trade and Industry (DTI), Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) for the information, education and advocacy drive of the project.

Meanwhile, DepEd-10 has identified at least five (5) pilot areas for planting bamboo trees: Barangays Lingating and Langawon in Baungon, Bukidnon and Mambuaya, Gusa and Iponan, in Cagayan de Oro City.

So far, Almeda said DepEd has allocated Php200,000 for the purchase of the bamboo seedlings, while DOST has promised to put up a bamboo processing plant worth Php1.2M in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon. (PIA)


New BJMP chief vows a more media-friendly bureau

Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental -- Wardens of different Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)-manned facilities in Northern Mindanao as well as members of the regional workforce paid a New Year Courtesy Call to its newly installed chief.

A management conference was subsequently held wherein Jail Senior Superintendent Abraham Pil Lintao of BJMP-10, mapped out his plans and programs for the Bureau which includes among others a more dynamic working relationship with the media.

Director Lintao specifically tasked Fr. Angelo Benjamin Durana, Chaplain and concurrent Chief of the Community Relations Service of BJMP-10 to serve as Spokesperson on matters concerning the region.

Likewise, all field units throughout the region are also encouraged to properly attend to queries and concerns of the community most especially accredited media representatives.

Lintao is very optimistic that this, in more ways than one, will indubitably help keep the general public be acquainted with the Bureau’s effort of providing a transparent and accountable jail management in line with Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo’s catchphrase, “We are your DILG.” (BJMP/PIA10)


Selling of dangerous drugs tops cases of women inmates at CDO jail by Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental - Violations of Republic Act 9165 otherwise known as “The Comprehensive Dangerous Act of 2002” topped the cases of women inmates at the Cagayan de Oro City Jail, in Barangay Lumbia, this city.

Thus revealed Jail/Sr. Supt. Pio P. Capistrano, Regional Director of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), region 10, who said a total of 96 women-inmates, three (3) of whom were children-in-conflict with the law (CICL) offenders have been admitted to the facility, as of December, last year.

He said majority of the inmates, 64%, are facing charges on violation of RA 9165, specifically, selling drugs, followed by theft/qualified theft, 13%, child abuse and trafficking-in-persons, 5.0%, each, and robbery with homicide/ robbery in an inhabited house, 4.0%.

Illegal recruitment, 3.0%, estafa thru falsification of commercial documents, 2% and kidnapping/failure to return a minor, statutory rape by sexual assault, violation of section 261 of Batas Pambansa 881 and rape, 1.0%, each.

Majority of the inmates had ages in the 38-42 yr. old level, 30%, followed by 33-37 yrs. old, 17%, 28-32 yrs. old, 16%, 18-22 yrs. old, 12%, 43-47 yrs. old, 9%, 23-27 yrs., 7%, 48-52 yrs. old, 3%, minors or below 18 yrs. old, 3% , 53-57 yrs. old, 2%, 59 yrs. old, the oldest, 1%.

Meanwhile, only 2% of the inmates are now serving sentence while 98% are under preventive imprisonment, Capistrano said.

As to case status, however, 79% are on-going trial, 7%, are on promulgation, 5%, are awaiting trial, 3%, each, are Insular and City Prisoners and 2% are with pending cases.

In another development, a donation drive for the inmates that included items for their personal hygiene, such as, soap, towels, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, sanitary napkins, cotton buds, etc., was initiated by the Gender Advocates-Women in Government Service (GA-WINGS), under its President, Alicia V. Euseña, Regional Director of the Dept. of Trade and Industry (DTI), region 10, last December.

The same activity was also undertaken by the Chief Executive Officers of Northern Mindanao (CEO-NM), an organization of the regional heads of national agencies in the region, headed by Atty. Lourdes Clavite-Vidal, Regional Director of the Civil Service Commission (CSC), region 10.

Both the GA-WINGS and CEO-NM officials took time to visit the inmates to distribute the items during the Christmas season. (PIA 10)


BJMP showcases talents of inmates

Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental -- In his effort to project a wholesome image of the Cagayan de Oro City Jail-Male Dorm, city jail chief initiated a video presentation showcasing talents of the inmates.

Dubbed, “A Tribute to Francis M,” Jail Superintendent Clint Russel A. Tangeres, City Jail Warden, said the video, a dance remix, is uploaded to a website and is already reaping some positive comments.

An interview, on the other hand, is scheduled for airing as segment presentation of a local television program.

Tangeres said he wants to demonstrate the jail management’s concern for the rehabilitation and development of the inmates in line with the Bureau’s mission and vision and in preparation of the inmates’ eventual reintegration to community once released.

Likewise, he wants to showcase some concrete undertakings toward inmates’ rehabilitation.

With the enthusiastic implementation of the Inmates’ Welfare Development, the city jail has launched activities and projects on aesthetics, formative education, health care, socio-cultural, and economics.

The YouTube posting is just one of the planned endeavors toward that end, said Tangeres.

Ultimately, Tangeres expressed his desires to change the public view of jails as dangerous a place.

“The inmates may have done wrong,” he quips, “but they are humans with their talents and skills intact.” (BJMP 10)


Community involvement, necessary in fight against dangerous drugs - PDEA
by Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental – The fight against the use of dangerous drugs in Northern Mindanao continues.

Thus stressed Lt. Col. Edwin F. Layese (Ret.), Regional Director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), region 10, who said various government and non-government agencies (GO/NGO’s) have signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with them to intensify the drug education, prevention and control in the region.

These GO/NGO’s include the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Dept. of Health-Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD), Dept. of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Land Transportation Office (LTO).

Two (2) higher education institutions (HEI): Central Mindanao University (CMU) in Maramag Bukidnon and Cagayan de Oro College, this city.

Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro, Interfaith and Religious Dialogue Movement, also of CDO and the STEAG Power Plant, in Villanueva, Mis. Or.

He also said last year, PDEA-10 had embarked on a drug awareness campaign that consisted of 74 lectures and seminars, 65 conferences and meetings, 110 appearances in radio and television, 33 speaking engagements, 14 MOA signing, 41 photo exhibits and 42 community involvement activities, such as, blood letting, among others.

These preventive drug education seminars and workshops, as well as the introduction of alternative livelihood programs were conducted in coordination with CHED, Dept. of Education (DepEd), the religious sector and the judges and prosecutors of the Dept. of Justice (DOJ), he said.

Meanwhile, Layese cited the involvement of the concerned citizens in the communities who volunteered information that resulted in stopping the production of marijuana (MJ) in the following areas

last year:

Barangay Cananga-an, Cabanglasan, Bukidnon, where 120,249 MJ plants were uprooted and 62 kg.

of dried MJ with an estimated value of Php21M in January.

Purok 8, Upper Puerto, CDO also resulting in the uprooting of undetermined number of MJ plants, confiscation of 4.78 grams of dried MJ leaves, 36.18 grams of MJ seed and 21.82 grams of MJ seedlings in February.

Sitio Palao, Barangay Iba, Cabanglasan, Bukidnon resulting in the confiscation of four (4) sacks of seized MJ dried leaves weighing 22.64 kilos was confiscated in March.

Sitio Cagnayaan, Brgy. Luz-Banzon, Jasaan, Misamis Oriental resulting in the uprooting of 125 hills of the MJ plants in August.

Layese said destruction of the confiscated items were held at Brgy. Cananga-an, Cabanglasan, at Holcim, Philippines in Lugait, Mis. Or. and at the Rizal Public Plaza in Iligan City. (PIA 10)


PIA Director General visits Cagayan de Oro, Jan. 31
by Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental - Director General Jose A. Fabia of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) is set to arrive in Cagayan de Oro City, Jan. 31, to grace the Strategic Planning Workshop for the Information Center Managers and Regional Heads of PIA in Mindanao and the launching of the Anti-Drug Courier Campaign.

Holder of a Master’s Degree in Entrepreneurship, attained with Distinction from the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), a Bachelor of Laws from the University of the Philippines (UP) and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Santo Tomas (UST), Fabia has been in the forefront of social, health and environmental development of the country.

His over 26 years of combined experience in management, governance issues, law, business, international trade, financing, recruitment, migration and healthcare has afforded him an array of expertise that expand not only in the local and national scenes but in international scene, as well.

His consultancy services from 1998 to 2010 include those on trade and financing to business companies in Switzerland and the Province of Sanduan in Papua, New Guinea, that provided links for Filipinos who want to work, live or do business in other countries.

As President and Chief Executive Officer, of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), from 1995 to 1998, he developed the organizational framework for the implementation of a Universal Health Insurance Program in the country and turned PhilHealth, a Php150-million company into a Php20 billion company, making it one of the highest earning government corporations in the country.

As Municipal Mayor of Binmaley, Pangasinan in 1992, he planned, developed and implemented a Nutrition, Food, Environment and Medicare Program for Indigents, adjudged as one of the best local government programs that won for him the “Galing Pook” Award given by the President of the Philippines, upon recommendation of the Ford Foundation, the Government of Canada and the AIM.

As Assistant Secretary of the Department of Health, from 1987 to 1991, he advocated for legal reforms in the health sector that led to the enactment of the Generics Law, Organs Donation Law, and amendment of the Foods, Drugs and Cosmetics Act of the Philippines that gained for him the Medal for Excellence in Public Service given by the Secretary of Health.

Fabia was also awarded “Most Outstanding Pangasinense in Public Service” by the Kaluyagan nen Palaris, a socio-civic organization based in the Province of Pangasinan. (PIA 10)


Private labels offer good business opportunity

Small and medium-sized producers and exporters can explore new markets and customers at low risks through selling private-labeled products and services.

This good opportunity that is being offered to companies in developing countries by private labels was discussed in a market report written by Rody Frequin, a partner at International Private Label Consult (IPLC) and owner at RoRetail Buying and Sourcing.

Frequin said these firms usually lack the resources to enter the market with the introduction of new brands which need to be built up from the start.

"For (many smaller) producers, private labels represent an interesting market with relatively low entry barriers," she said.

Aside from producers and exporters, Frequin said, retailers could also enjoy good margins compared with similar branded products. While consumers benefit from the same quality but at lower prices.

Private label products and services are brands which are owned by a retailer or store owner. They may also be called house brands, own brands and retail brands.

Retailers are able to offer exclusive ranges of products and to expand the loyalty of consumers to their stores by offering their own brand to consumers.

Private labels are often positioned mass private labels which are lower cost alternatives to regional, national or international brands.

Premium private labels are also developed to compete with exclusive A-brands. Both their quality and price are higher than the latter.

Budget or price entry private labels, on the other hand, offer the consumers a strong price alternative to the discounter's stores.

"With the private label brands commanding profit margins in some case of 60 to 90 percent range for retailers, it is no wonder that these retailers have been making the concentrated push towards store-only brands," she noted. "This push, combined with a dragging economy, will help the private labels continue their growth over the new few years."

Frequin said private labels are expected to grow by more than 50 percent in value by 2012.

"Private labels are gaining a larger market share and greater acceptance by the consumer," she said. "Private label brands continue to grow in sales and volumes in the market, extending a trend that was accelerated by the recession but begun years earlier."

Apart from the three segments, private labels are likewise more and more appealing in other kinds of product segments including organic, fair trade, healthy eating, kids/baby and allergen-free.

In some countries, the categories with the highest private label penetration are chilled ready meals, prepacked bread, olives, cakes and pastries, toilet paper/tissue/kitchen towels, instant teas, oils, nuts and vinegars. (Danielle Venz, PHILEXPORT)


Phl undertakes APEC food defense pilot program

The Philippines will join two other Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) countries' efforts to implement a food defense pilot program that aims to enhance food supply chain security throughout the region.

The country, along with Vietnam, will undertake the three-phase economy-specific pilot project until May 2011. This, after Peru volunteered to be the first pilot economy in 2008, followed by Thailand in 2009.

In a forum, Kelly J. McCormick, an international trade specialist of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), said the US will sponsor an APEC Food Defense Project in the Philippines beginning February.

During the first phase of the program, McCormick said, the US team will engage with the country's key food stakeholders to identify the appropriate entities to work with the US and APEC as counterparts on food defense capacity building.

She said the team will also generate awareness-raising program designed for the government, academe and industry.

"Phase Two will focus on food defense awareness initiatives, the identification of vulnerabilities, and the development of food defense plans," said McCormick. "It will be based on the distribution of specific, advanced methods for disseminating and integrating food defense technical information or strategies into regular use by industry."

McCormick said the phase three of the program involves the provision of individual defense plan capacity building assistance to partner companies.

The US government, private sector experts and Philippine university partners will select companies based on their ability to share food defense practices in their respective agribusiness sectors and serve as models over the long-term for other businesses and organizations, she said.

McCormick said companies in particular need to implement food defense plans to help protect their businesses from an act of intentional contamination and from potential loss and liability.

"(These plans) allow you to look at your business/organization in a different way --which may lead to improved efficiency and better progress," she noted. "(These will also) help your organization to be ahead of the competition, export or domestic."

McCormick said upon the completion of all four pilot projects in mid-2011, a regional workshop will be held to showcase the multilateral food defense efforts and to continue to raise regional awareness.

APEC economies have committed to pursue food defense efforts which safeguard food trade and consumption throughout the region. (Danielle Venz, PHILEXPORT)


Global green port efforts intensify

International initiatives to get the port and shipping industry to embrace sustainable management concepts to facilitate efficient and environment-friendly transport of cargoes continue to gather momentum.

This was according to Julian King, Adviser to the Board of the United Kingdom-based ECO Sustainable Logistic Chain Foundation during the second day of the three-day 6th Philippine Ports and Shipping International Conference, which started last 26 January 2011.

The trend towards the greening of ports has been largely driven by environmental legislation and advocacy efforts of international organizations such as the ECO SLC, said King.

ECO SLC was established in April 2010 by the core team from the Ecoports Foundation, a network of European Seaports and related professionals and academicians, which developed and implemented the Ecoports environmental management tools for Port Authorities.

Another key green port effort referred to by King is the World Ports Climate Initiative where ports cooperate with shipping in support of measures to reduce emissions to air from ships.

Part of this Initiative is the development of a global indexing system called the Environmental Ship Index (ESI).

Based on the amount of nitrogen oxide, sulphur oxide and greenhouse gas released by ship, ESI identifies seagoing ships that are able to reduce air emissions more than required by the current emission standards of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

The IMO prescribes the reduction of maximum sulfur-oxide content in oil fuel in some regions to 0.1 percent starting in 2015 from the current level of one percent.

King likewise mentioned that the European Commission has released directives that dictate an increasingly strict reduction of port-related environmental impacts.

On account of these environmental regulations, huge investments are going to eco-friendly port facilities and technologies.

King noted that a mega wind turbine part is being constructed at the Port of Rotterdam.

Also, the Swedish port of Gothenburg is working on enabling its vessels to run on liquefied natural gas (LNG) beginning 2013.

Just recently, the Government of Canada unveiled its plan to invest $2.5 million in the Prince Rupert Port Authority's Fairview Terminal project that will significantly reduce local greenhouse gas emissions providing shore power capacity to container ships through an electric cable management system.

Other port greening initiatives are aimed at reducing other environmental liabilities of ports, such as water contamination, loss of bottom habitat and fishery resources, bottom contamination by harmful and toxic substances, noise and vibration and wastes discharged from ships and cargo operations. (Ritchelle Alburo, PHILEXPORT)


Phl asked to revive private investment to arrest the peso's rise

The Philippines must revive private investment to stem the unwanted peso appreciation that puts exporters and domestic manufacturers at a disadvantage.

The exchange rate has been identified among the important policy areas to the international trade strategy (ITS) for the Philippines currently being formulated as part of the Trade Related Technical Assistance Project 2 (TRTA 2). The project is a development cooperation initiative between the Philippines and the Commission of the European Communities (EC).

In a mission report, Josef T. Yap, a short-term expert on ITS, stressed that investment expenditure is heavily import-dependent, particularly those in durable equipment.

"An increase in investment will therefore contribute to economic growth directly and indirectly by preventing an overvalued peso," he said.

Yap said the strong peso, which has been attributed to remittance inflows and the weakness of the US dollar, affect the exporters.

He also cited results of a number of studies indicating the effect of the exchange rate on the performance of the domestic manufacturing.

One study blamed the peso's overvaluation for the sector's concentration on low productivity, low technology and scale products. Another study cited the appreciation of the local currency as the main source of the country's economic woes.

Yap said the unsupportive exchange rate policy has been also identified among the main reasons for the lack of economic transformation following the implementation of the openness model in the Philippines.

"Conventional wisdom states that an overvalued currency will be disadvantageous to industrialization because it penalizes exporters and domestic manufacturers. Moreover, it encourages consumption spending over investment," he noted.

Yap, who is also the president of government think tank Philippine Institute of Development Studies, underscored the need to stem the peso appreciation, citing its impact on firm-level competitiveness particularly for exporters and firms that compete directly with imports.

"It should be noted that part of investment will go into areas that improve firm-level competitiveness e.g. product development and research and development," he said.

Apart from the exchange rate, Yap identified other core elements of an trade strategy, including the competitiveness of companies and domestic-oriented firms, trade facilitation and logistics, industrial policy and assistance for the small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

"The main objectives should be to assist SMEs latch on to global and domestic production networks; and to improve the technological capability of firms. The examples of Korea and Singapore in applying industrial policy would be useful," he said.

Yap further said that by assisting SMEs, trade integration can lead to greater employment opportunities. (Danielle Venz, PHILEXPORT)


Truckers given three-month breathing space to comply with overloading law

Strict implementation of an overloading law that applies to trucks and trailers has been moved from February 1 to June 1 this year.

This was the compromise accepted by the Department of Public Works of Highways (DPWH) during a recent dialogue with truckers, importers and exporters who had protested the multiple weighing of trucks that ship goods to and from the country's major international and domestic seaports.

In an advisory to exporters that use the customs bonded warehouse facilities of the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (PHILEXPORT), Armando Victoria, assistant vice president for operations, told them they must prepare for higher costs of trucking and delays in the transport of goods to and from the ports when the law will finally take effect.

This could happen as the DPWH had determined that the basis in determining overloading is not the axle capacity of hauler trucks but the total weights of the vehicle with its cargo.

The highest weight allowed for big trailers that move 40-foot containers to and from the seaports was pegged at 41 metric tons.

Most likely to be penalized under the new system are truckers that move imported timber for the furniture and home furnishing industry in the country that depend on imported wood, the steel-makers particularly the automotive parts industry that imports special steel, the petroleum companies, cement manufacturers and gravel and sand haulers, plus importers of raw paper for the local printing industry.

Next to electronics, automotive steel and wood raw materials are the country's biggest raw, material imports for local use and for export.

Delays will likely happen as implementers of the law had decided that beside weighing bridges that will be installed on the gates of major seaports, the DPWH will also install weighing bridges in strategic gateways from Metro-Manila.

During the dialogue, truckers expressed fears that the weighing stations outside the ports may end up as "kotong" points as happened with police and environment checkpoints in the past.

It was also pointed out that to avoid getting regularly fined for violating the overloading law, truckers will have to upgrade the hauling capacity of their tracks. This will redound to increases in trucking costs. (Abe P. Belena, PHILEXPORT)


Competitiveness body to focus on where PH is weakest

The National Competitiveness Council (NCC) will be focusing on monitoring projects and programs meant to strengthen areas where the Philippines has been weakest in global competitiveness ratings.

This was disclosed by NCC private sector chairman Cesar Bautista in an interview.

The four areas where the country is lagging far behind its Asian neighbors are in international investments, basic infrastructure, scientific infrastructure and education.

Foreign direct investments had been very low, international seaports and connecting highways had not been modernized, the country has very low investment in research and development while basic education has remained only 10 years instead of the international practice of 12 years.

"More vigorous efforts must be done to improve and enhance investors' confidence in the country," Bautista, a retired trade secretary, pointed out.

Statistical records had shown that for the whole of the past decade, average foreign investments that trickled into the country averaged $1 billion. This was miniscule in comparison to OFW remittances which had grown to $18 billion last year.

In trying to get the country to comply with the millennium challenge goal of "strengthening robust investors' assistance process," the NCC had made representations with top economic managers for the formation of an inter-agency assistance and relations team.

"The team will ensure the resolution of competitiveness issues like red tape and the high cost of doing business between the various government agencies issuing permits and licenses," he explained. (Abe P. Belena, PHILEXPORT)