PIA-10 News

Kaamulan: A grand tribal celebration
by: Ruby Leonora R. Balistoy

MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon, March 5 (PIA) – Thousands of people jammed the streets of Malaybalay City, today, March 5, to get a taste of the province’s rich Bukidnon culture and heritage.

The fine weather encouraged droves of people with family members and friends for the Kaamulan 2011 dance competition and theatrical epics at the streets.

Bukidnon Gov. Alex Calingasan and Vice Gov. Jose Ma. Zubiri led local and national government officials who took part of the festivities.

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri and Malaysian Ambassador Dato’ Sri Anifah HJ Aman joined the event as guests of honor.

They were greeted by tribal dance groups that charmed the audience with their skillful performances of the “Ikat-Ikat ta dadalanen (street dances).”

In his speech, Sen. Zubiri said Kaamulan Festival in Bukidnon is probably one of the remaining few festivals in the Philippines that is still not commercialized and has retained its true essence.

Kaamulan is a celebration and gathering of the seven tribes of Bukidnon namely the Tala-andig, Higaonon, Umayamnon, Manobo, Tigwahanon, Matigsalug and Bukidnon.

The capitol ground stretch was a hive of activity as tourists and guests patronised many makeshift stalls and restaurants that served native and Bukidnon delicacies. (PIA-10)


OCCIBAL access road seen to spur development in Ozamiz City
by: Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental, March 5 (PIA) – Ozamiz City has strengthened its role as a major transport hub at the western portion of Northern Mindanao.

And recent seaport and airport developments has spur economic activities in the city, which resulted to rapid urban expansion and traffic congestion along its major thoroughfare.

Thus, the establishment of the Ozamiz City-Clarin Interior By Pass Airport Link (OCCIBAL) and related access road has been approved by the Regional Development Council, region 10 (RDC-X) during its meeting last month.

Iligan City Mayor Laurence Ll. Cruz, RDC-X Chairperson said OCCIBAL road provides a 5.8km. direct access to Ozamiz Airport that would serve as a diversion road for through vehicular flow traffic by-passing the urban center while the 5.10km related access road provides direct link to the airport, itself.

In line with the government’s strategy of developing transport and networks towards promoting productivity and competitiveness, OCCIBAL’s feasibility study was conducted by the Dept. of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), July of 2008.

Based on 2008 estimates, the cost of the project is about Php247.88M to include the civil works for the roadway, structures and drainages, provision of physical contingencies, design and supervision costs and acquisition for the road right-of-way (RROW).

By establishing the road networks and improving links to major transport hub, the project will support the growth of various sectors of the economy including the tourism industry.

The OCCIBAL road will start at the junction of the national road in Barangay Lapasan, in the municipality of Clarin at the boundary of Ozamiz City traversing generally flat terrain.

It will pass through barangays Gango, Labo, Bacolod, Aguada, Carangan, Lam-an, Baňadero of Ozamiz City and terminates at the junction of the national highway towards Clarin. (PIA 10)


Fighting corruption tops agenda of Pres. Aquino’s Social Contract with the People – Abad
by: Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental, March 5 (PIA) – Fighting corruption and promoting transparent and accountable governance tops the list of priority areas in Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III’s Social Contract with the Filipino People.

This was emphasized by Sec. Florencio B. Abad of the Dept. of Budget and Management (DBM) in his message to the members of the Regional Development Council, region 10, (RDC-X) during its 88th full council meeting in Iligan City, last month.

The message of the DBM Secretary was read by Regional Director Annabelle Atillo of DBM, region 10, who represented him in the meeting.

“The said contract was the same contract the President proposed at the beginning of his candidacy in 2010 and the same social contract that he won in an unprecedented manner,” the DBM Secretary said.

It has 16-point governance agenda that the Pres. Aquino intends to fulfill, by the end of his term and can be summarized as follows: “Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap.”

He said the other priority areas of the contract are as follows: poverty reduction and empowerment of vulnerable and marginalized sectors, including meeting our Millennium Development Goals (MDG).

Rapid, equitable and sustained economic growth, just and lasting peace, especially in the countryside, building a motivated, professional and energized bureaucracy and, last but not the least, is sustainable development, with emphasis on adapting to climate change. (PIA-10)


BIR calls taxpayers to pay correct taxes
by Elaine O. Ratunil

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental, March 4 (PIA)—The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has called on the public to fulfill their obligations and pay taxes correctly.

Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim S. Jacinto-Henares conveyed this call through a video clip presented by Assistant Commissioner Lucita G. Rodriguez of the Taxpayer Assistance Service during the tax campaign kick-off in the city, recently.

With the campaign theme: “Buwis Mo Para sa Bagong Pilipinas,” the activity was hosted by Revenue District Office (RDO) No. 98 of the BIR Revenue Region No. 16 (BIR RR16) that covers Northern Mindanao.

Henares cited that government services, such as health, education and infrastructure, among others, are dependent on taxes collected so there is a need for all of us to help and join hands in guarding how government funds are being spent.

Meanwhile, ACIR Rodriguez underscored the importance of the tax campaign which is designed to increase tax collection, awareness on honest and timely payment of taxes, make taxpayers closer to BIR and vice versa and increase taxpayers or clients satisfaction.

“We are doing this for generations to come and it is fitting to act now,” Rodriguez emphasized.

Talking about the theme, she said BIR will collect the correct taxes which the taxpayers will dutifully give and through these collections, the services of the government to ensure a solid and a better nation will be sufficiently covered.

It describes the resolute desire of the BIR to collect the correct amount of taxes sufficient enough to support nation building.

Along with this, it is vital that taxpayers would also do their part in paying the correct amount of taxes where every single centavo of the rightful tax due to the government is paid to adequately fund different public services, the administration is envisioning and delivering.

“Together, we, the BIR and taxpayers will ensure solid governance anchored on improved and timely delivery of public goods and services,” Rodriguez said.

The campaign logo, on the other hand, captures the lofty and ideal aspiration of the BIR. The Lego blocks represent the taxes correctly paid which are the essential building blocks of nation-building, the lifeblood that turns the wheel of government.

Altogether, the taxes collected, sufficient in amount to cover the services of government, will ensure a solid and better nation, thus, a better life for Filipinos.

The BIR logo also fits to achieve the tagline of Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III’s “Walang Mahirap Kung Walang Corrupt,” that exacts the change in both practices and values towards his battle cry of “Matuwid na Daan (righteous path),” Rodriguez also said. (PIA10)


BIR RDO-102 intensifies tax info campaign
by: Apipa Bagumbaran

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, March 4 (PIA) –- The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) District Office No. 102 is intensifying its campaign on tax information in order to meet their P300M tax collection goal this year.

Revenue District Officer (RDO) Amenodin Macarampat said they are conducting a door-to-door campaign and series of seminars to inform taxpayers of their obligations to the government, as well, as to raise awareness on the various tax programs of the BIR.

“The main targets of our seminars are the withholding agents of government agencies and instrumentalities and local government units especially in the barangay level,” he said.

In January 2011, RDO-102 collected Php23,850,280.20 which is higher by Php4, 311,807.01 or 22.07 percent from the Php19,538,473.19 collections of the same month last year.

The total collections also exceeded their goal of Php23,446,000 for January by Php404,280.20 or 1.72 percent.

The major source of the revenue collections came from the withholding taxes of government agencies, government schools and government hospitals, Macarampat said.

He explained that about 70 percent of the total collections are withholding taxes while the remaining 30 percent comes from Value Added Tax (VAT) and other business taxes.

Macarampat further said they are stepping-up the conduct of tax mapping or Tax Compliance Verification Drive (TCVD) throughout the province.

Inspection of business establishments to verify their compliance on registration, invoicing and bookkeeping requirements as provided under existing internal revenue laws, rules and regulations are done through the TCVD, the RDO added. (PIA-10)


BIR reminds taxpayers to file their ITR early
by: Apipa Bagumbaran

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, March 4 (PIA) --- Businessmen, government employees and other taxpayers are urged to file their income tax returns (ITR) early to avoid the rush.

This advice came from Revenue District Officer (RDO) Amenodin Macarampat of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) District Office No. 102 in Marawi city, who said that the filing of ITR for income earned in 2010 has started.

“The deadline for filling the ITR is on April 15, 2011, but it is best to file early to avoid the long queue in the BIR office towards the deadline, as well, as avoid penalties due to late filing,” he said.

He added that those residing within the city can file their taxes at the BIR district office located in Gomisa Avenue while those outside the city can file their ITR with the assigned BIR collecting agents in their respective municipalities.

Macarampat also said that they will be setting-up a table inside the Mindanao State University (MSU) to accommodate the more than 3,000 employees from the campus.

Meanwhile, he disclosed their plan to talk with the Palitan (market) site administrator and request for a space for their collecting agents to accommodate the businessmen within the site.

The RDO also appealed to the taxpayers to file the correct taxes and pay their obligations due to the government citing that the taxes would be returned to them in the form of government projects and programs, such as, social and health services, as well, as vital infrastructure projects.

He called on the businessmen and the local government units and barangay officials to help them reach or overshoot their tentative goal of Php300M for the year 2011. (PIA-10)


CropSci Major bags BPI-DOST Science Award
by: Tess Superioridad-Baluyos

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental, March 4 (PIA) -- Anna Marie A. Hallasgo, a graduating Crop Science Major of the College of Agriculture, Xavier University, took a spot in the coveted list of Bank of Philippine Islands—Dept. of Science and Technology (BPI-DOST) Science Awardees alongside two other XU students, recently.

Hallasgo was given recognition for her work on “Assessing the Ammonia Burn of Tomato Plant as a Bioassay in determining the Ammonia Emission from Chicken as Affected by Different Levels of Lactic Acid Bacteria.”

Chicken dung is used as fertilizers due to its natural source of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium. However, it is also potentially dangerous to both animals and humans and her study aimed to eliminate that problem through the use of indigenous materials.

A plaque, cash worth Php25,000 and an assured position of junior officer at BPI were some of the perks that Hallasgo, Chemistry student Rick Arneil Arancon and Biology student Kristy Xue Mei Kwong received.

Senior Vice President Emmanuel Herbosa of BPI and Regional Director Alfonso Alamban of DOST, region 10 and XU President Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin, S.J. together with the XU Vice Presidents and College Deans presented the award during the ceremony.

Now on its 21st year, the BPI-DOST Science Awards program has produced over 601 awardees from its ten (10) partner universities:

Ateneo de Davao University, Davao City, Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City. De La Salle University, Manila, Saint Louis University, Baguio City and Siliman University, Dumaguete City.

University of San Carlos, Cebu City, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, University of the Philippines-Diliman, Quezon City, University of the Philippines-Los Baños, Laguna and Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan, Cagayan de Oro City. (DOST/PIA-10)


Tagalog News: World Food Programme kaakibat ng Lanao del Sur sa pagkamit ng kapayapaan
by: Bobby Ilupa

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, March 4 --- Tumutulong din ang United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP) upang makamit ang kapayapaan sa buong lalawigan ng Lanao del Sur.

Ibinunyag ito ni Engr. Mohamadali Macaraya, provincial agriculturist, nang makapanayam ng Radyo ng Bayan.

Ayon kay Macaraya inaprubahan ng WFP ang proposal ng provincial government na maisagawa ang “Training on Human Security through Peace and Community Empowerment” noong taong 2008.

Sa loob ng halos anim (6) na buwan ay sumailalim sa nasabing pagsasanay ang mahigit 5,000 katao mula sa 40 bayan ng Lanao del Sur, kabilang na ang Marawi City, dagdag pa niya.

Sa pamamagitan ng “food for training” ng WFP ay naging matagumpay ang nasabing pagsasanay, ayon kay Macaraya.

“Ang training ay naglalayong ipaintindi sa mga Meranaw ang kahalagahan ng kapayapaan para umunlad ang lalawigan,” paliwanag pa niya. “Ang mga krimen at ‘rido’ o away sa pagitan ng dalawang pamilya ay ilan lamang sa mabibigat na balakid upang makamtan ang kaunlaran ng Lanao del Sur,” binigyang diin ni Macaraya.

Malaki naman ang pasasalamat ni governor Mamintal Adiong, Jr. sa UNWFP dahil sa mga tulong na ipinaaabot nito sa probinsiya, ayon kay Macaraya. (DXSO/PIA-10)


Tagalog News: “SEARCH FOR THE BIGGEST LOSER” inilunsad para sa mga tauhan ng IPHO-Lanao del Sur
By: Bobby Ilupa

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, March 4 --- Inilunsad na ang Search for the Biggest Loser para sa mga tauhan ng Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO)-Lanao del Sur noong isang araw.

Sa pakikipanayam ng Radyo ng Bayan at ng PIA, ipinaliwanag ni IPHO chief Dr. Alinader Minalang na ipatutupad nila itong programa upang ang kanilang mga health workers ay magkaroon ng malusog na pangangatawan.

Sinabi ni Minalang na mayroong halos apat na raan ang mga kawani ng IPHO-Lanao del Sur, kasama na doon ang mga naninilbihan sa anim (6) na district hospitals at sa mga rural health units nila sa buong lalawigan.

“Marami sa aming mga kasamahan ay matabang-mataba o di kaya’y sobra sa timbang,” ayon kay Minalang. “Bilang mga health workers kami dapat ang nangunguna sa pagtataguyod ng healthy lifestyle,” dagdag pa niya.

Ang pagpapanatili ng normal na timbang ng katawan ng tao ay isa sa mga healthy lifestyle.

Ito rin ay kabahagi ng isinusulong ng IPHO-Lanao del Sur na hakbang upang maiwasan ang mga cardiovascular diseases, sinabi pa ni Minalang.

Ayon sa kanya, sa loob ng anim na buwan ay imo-monitor nila ang timbang ng makakasali sa nabanggit na timpalak.

Kung sinuman ang magkaroon ng pinakamalaking nabawas na timbang ay siyang mananalo, dagdag pa niya.

Maliban sa personal na matatamong kabawasan sa timbang ng katawan, ang magwawagi ay tatanggap din ng iba pang premyo, ayon kay Minalang.

“Kapag nagtagumpay ang programang ito ay balak namin itong gawing bukas para sa lahat ng mga residente ng Lanao del Sur,”dagdag pa niya. (DXSO/PIA-10)