President Aquino enjoins support for first ASEAN Conference on Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering in Manila

President Benigno S. Aquino III has enjoined all heads of departments, agencies and instrumentalities of the national government, including government-owned-controlled corporations, local government units, and state colleges and universities to extend full support for the 1st ASEAN Conference on Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering on September 24-26 in Manila.

The directive was issued by virtue of Memorandum Circular No. 52 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on July 19.

With the theme “Integrating Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering in the ASEAN for Food Security, Climate Change Mitigation and Global Practice,” the conference will lay the initial groundwork for the development of harmonized qualifications and standards necessary for the mobility of agricultural engineering services in ASEAN Region which will help achieve long-term competitiveness of ASEAN’s food, agriculture and forestry products/commodities.

The Board of Agricultural Engineering of the Professional Regulation Commission, Philippine Society of Agricultural Engineers and the National Agricultural and Fishery Council-Agricultural and Fishery Mechanization Committee, in coordination with the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Services, is set to conduct the First ASEAN Conference on Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering this September.

In collaboration with the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry, Commission on Higher Education and the Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers and Distributors Association, the organizers will hold the three-day event at the Manila Hotel.

Agricultural engineers of various government agencies are encouraged to participate in the said ASEAN Conference, subject to the approval of their respective heads of offices, and in accordance to the regular procedures for leaves of absences and availability of funds.

The President directed the Department of Foreign Affairs to extend assistance in coordinating with concerned officials and embassies of all ASEAN countries to encourage the participation/attendance of their agricultural engineers, agricultural and biosystems engineers and concerned officials to the said ASEAN conference.

Malacanang says DTI and associations of flour millers and bakers studying ways to improve yield of ‘Harinang Pinoy,’ main ingredient in Pinoy Tasty and Pinoy Pandesal

The Department of Trade and Industry is working with members from the associations of flour millers and bakers into developing a higher yielding batch of Harinang Pinoy, a low-cost flour ingredient used to make Pinoy Tasty and Pinoy Pandesal, two favorite bread types of Filipinos that may cost higher to buy, Malacanang said on Wednesday.

In a press briefing in Malacanang, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that until then, millers and bakers have committed not to increase prices of these two bread types.

He added that if studies on improving the yield of Harinang Pinoy will not materialize, bakers will have to use the much more expensive local flour which in turn will increase the prices of Pinoy Tasty and Pinoy Pandesal.

“The commitment the millers is to find ways to improve the yield of Harinang Pinoy so they’re doing it right now and the bakers have committed na wala munang price increase ngayon but they’re planning na sakaling gagamit na sila ng local flour … magiging expensive na yan,“ Lacierda said.

“DTI is reviewing their suggested price but we’re looking already how the millers will improve the yield of Harinang Pinoy.

Wala na munang pag-galaw sa presyo ng Pinoy Tasty and Pinoy Pandesal dahil pinag-aaralan ng DTI kasama ng mga bakers and millers kung ano magagawa nila,” he added.

The Presidential Spokesperson clarified that the planned price increase will only affect Pinoy Tasty and Pinoy Pandesal.

“Let’s just clarify: its not all the bread whose prices will increase. We’re focused only on Pinoy Tasty and Pinoy Pandesal because these two types of bread use a different kind of flour called Harinang Pinoy,” Lacierda said.

“So ang concern nila ay sa Pinoy Tasty at sa Pinoy Pandesal at hindi sa lahat ng tasty o pandesal. The bakers are limited to this,” he said.

Palace says it’s well-versed about corruption in the Bureau of Customs

Malacanang said it has enough information about the severity of the corruption in the Bureau of Customs and knows the scope of the overhaul needed to reform the bureau.

“Part of the process of instituting reforms is to know the battlefield. It is safe to say that we know the battlefield and we know the lay of the land; and so, what the reforms are will be in response to the lay of the land,” Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in the press briefing in Malacanang on Wednesday.

Pressed by reporters if the President has solid evidence to prove Customs personnel who are involved in smuggling, Lacierda said the Palace can’t divulge at this time the measures to be carried out to reform the bureau.

“You will know our reforms. We don’t want to telegraph our measure. If I answer you one way, there will be a lot of implications or consequences —unnecessary consequences or unintended consequences. So the safest answer is to say: you will know,” he said.

In his State of the Nation Address (Sona) on July 22, the President lashed out at BOC personnel for not collecting more than P200 billion from the smuggled goods.

The President said that instead of collecting the proper taxes and preventing contraband from entering the country, those officials permitted the smuggling of goods, drugs, arms and other items into the country.

Customs personnel who could not do their job don’t deserve to remain in office, he said.

Senator Francis Escudero, the Senate finance committee chair, on Tuesday filed a resolution directing three committees to investigate the padrino system in the BOC.

Escudero’s resolution mandates his committee as well as the Senate blue ribbon and ways and means committees to spearhead the investigation of a rumored patronage system in the customs bureau.

ARMM govt sends aid to thousands of flood victims in Maguindanao

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Aug. 1 -- The newly formed Humanitarian Emergency Assistance and Response Team (HEART) of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) kicks into action this week as days of torrential rains bring flood and displace thousands of residents in several communities in 20 of the 36 towns in Maguindanao province.

According to data released by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the region, flood-affected families reached around 48,870 in more than 158 communities in the province.

ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman and Haroun Al-Rashid Lucman, vice-governor and concurrent DSWD-ARMM secretary, headed a team that set out Monday, July 29, to bring aid to hundreds of families in the towns of Sultan Kudarat and Mother Kabuntalan.

Hataman said the relief is intended to help residents hurdle effect of the flood and prevent any casualty.

A second round of relief efforts pushed ahead Tuesday in Paglat and Gen. Salipada K. Pendatun despite the outbreak of a clash between government forces and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) along the main road leading to the two towns.

“We decided to take a different route and proceed with the relief in the two towns considering the conditions of affected residents,” the region’s executive secretary, said ARMM Executive Secretary Atty. Laisa Alamia.

Relief packs included food items, mosquito nets, hygiene kits and drugs used to treat potable water.

Alamia said agencies that comprise the ARMM HEART are already accustomed to emergency response despite the early stage of its formation.

The ARMM government is working with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to capacitate the ARMM HEART.

Meanwhile, an initial assessment of the ongoing relief was held Wednesday, July 31, to evaluate the extent of the flooding, the number of affected residents and assistance needed.

Rahima Datumanong Alba, DSWD-ARMM assistant secretary, said most of the affected families have sought shelter in the house of their kin and are considered house-based, while a few occupy classrooms or makeshift tents.

Department of Health (DOH)-ARMM will also be watching out for diseases that can proliferate during floods, according to its assistant secretary, Dayang Carlsum Jumaide. (Bogs Sayson/BPI-ARMM)

TESDA-10 reiterates call for nominees to the Galing Mason Awards

By Apipa P. Bagumbaran

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Aug. 1 (PIA) -- The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Regional Office 10 has reiterated its call for individuals and organizations to submit nominations for the 2013 Holcim Galing Mason Awards.

The search is open to all Filipino masons, male or female aged 25-55 years old and holder of a valid TESDA National Certificate on Masonry, said TESDA Regional Director Edgar Sales.

Candidates, which must be nominated by a reputable individual or legitimate organization, must possess a good moral character, in good health condition, with no derogatory records or administrative infractions, and practicing masonry of at least one year.

Nominating individual or organization may get nomination forms and submit the accomplished entries from TESDA Regional and Provincial Offices, Philippine Contractors Association (PCA) Offices, Association of Construction and Informal Workers (ACIW) Chapters, Holcim Philippines CSR Department Offices, and selected Holcim dealers nationwide.

The deadline for the submission of entries is on August 16, 2013.

The nominees will go through three levels of selection process, the Documentary Screening which reviews the mason’s credentials and personal background, the Regional Search which subjects the masons to a masonry skills competition, and the National Search where finalists undergo a panel interview with the leaders and experts of the construction industry.

Prizes at stake include Holcim Cement bags and P25,000 cash prize each for the 17 regional finalists and Holcim Cement bags and P150,000 cash for the Holcim Galing Mason champion.

Now on its fourth run, the Galing Mason Awards aims to salute outstanding masons who have shown tremendous pride and utmost improvement at work while being responsible members of the community.

It is part of Holcim’s flagship corporate social responsibility program done in partnership with TESDA, PCA, and ACIW.

We encourage every mason in the country to join in this search as this is one way of showing how Holcim is proud of the Filipino mason, said Michael Cabalda, head of Holcim’s Sustainable Development Group.

By far, Holcim has awarded five Holcim Galing Mason Awards winners. The first cycle in 2007 was won by Sergio Barliso of Cebu, the 2009 competition was topped by Rodante Andres of Capiz and the 2011 grand champions were Eduardo Latap of National Capital Region and Alejandro Tagle of Cagayan Valley.

For more details about the Galing Mason Awards, please contact the Holcim Galing Mason Hotlines 0919-536-7425 and 0917-866-4252 or email them at galingmasonawards@yahoo.com.

You may also contact TESDA Regional Office 10 at (08822) 725-519 and (088) 857-1665 and look for Honey Analou Doña. (APB/PIA-10)

Ozamiz CDRRMC conducts awareness contests on NDCM

By Rutchie C. Aguhob

OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental, July 31 (PIA) – Some 45 high school students participated yesterday in an Oratorical, Essay-Writing and Drawing Contest on the sub-theme “Safer Ozamiz: Progressive Ozamiz.”

Held at the La Salle University-Integrated School (LSU-IS), here, all 15 high schools in the city were represented in each of the contest.

The sub-theme was an off-shoot of this year’s NCDM theme: “Ligtas na Bayan, Ligtas na Pamayanan” (Safer Communities, Progressive Communities), Mark Vincent Israel, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (CDRRM) Officer, said.

“We have invited you here, not only to win, but because we wanted to know the level of your awareness on how to mitigate the effects of climate change and reduce the risk of disasters in our lives,” he told the contestants.

Stressing the role of the youth, Israel said “We cannot do anything to stop the calamities, but we can do things to adapt to it so damage to properties can be minimized and loss of lives can be prevented.”

And so we will welcome your suggestions and proposals, which you will interpret in your oratorical piece, in your essay and in your drawings, the CDRRM Officer said.

Meanwhile, the following students were declared winners in the contests:

Oratorical – Jojie B. Edma, Labo National High School (NHS), 1st, Dayce Drizzle T. Lalimos, Misamis University (MU), 2nd and Bon Anthony M. Uy, Misamis Union High School (MUHS), 3rd.

Essay-Writing – Trischa Sheen A. Dumanjug, Ozamiz City NHS, 1st, Jessa Mae M. Caamiňo, Gala NHS, 2nd and Noven S. Abe, Labinay NHS, 3rd.

Drawing - Renato Jumawan, Labo National High School (NHS), 1st; Joshua M. Biloran, Ozamiz City School of Arts and Trade (OCSAT), 2nd; and Janeson B. Vilan, 3rd.

Winners will receive P3,000, P2,000 and P1,000, for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places, respectively, plus a plaque of recognition, each, while non-winners will each receive P500 as consolation prizes, during the Flag Raising Ceremony on August 5, at the City Hall Grounds, Israel said. (RCAguhob/PIA10-Misamis Occidental)

Lanao Norte joins DRRM Summit

TUBOD, Lanao del Norte, July 31 (PIA) -- Members of the Lanao del Norte Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council along with its town mayors attended the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Summit held at Chali Beach Resort, Cugman, Cagayan de Oro City on July 23 to 25.

The three-day Summit aimed to enhance the DRRM capabilities of the region’s local chief executives (LCEs) in their implementation of the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 to ensure that communities especially those in the countryside are disaster resilient as directed by President Benigno S. Aquino III.

Resource speakers coming from the national government line agencies include Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Focus of discussion were mainly on emergency response awareness, rehabilitation and recovery, prevention and mitigation and disaster preparedness such as setting up an early warning system and hazard assessment.

Lanao del Norte contingent led by Provincial Administrator and DRRMC Executive Officer Joselito Quibranza presented its best practices for having been awarded as the third place winner in the National Gawad Kalasag (Provincial Category).

Other attendees to this summit came from the provinces of Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Bukidnon, Camiguin and the cities of Iligan and Cagayan de Oro.

Also, participants were given workshops on community-specific risks and ways to mitigate risks in their localities.

At the end of the summit, the contingents, including Lanao del Norte, were given Plaque of Appreciation by the Office of Civil Defense through its Regional Director and RDRRMC Chairperson Ana Cañeda, for their active participation in this endeavor. (Lovely A. Rosario/ PIO/LDN/LVGabule/PIA-10 LDN)

Level of household energization of region 10, 85.58% in 1Q

By Rutchie C. Aguhob

OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental, July 31 (PIA) – At least 646,903 out of 755,946 potential households in region 10 have been energized as of the first quarter of 2013.

This has brought the level of household energization (LHE) or houses with electric connection in the region to 85.58 percent, Engr. Leon M. Dacanay, Jr., Regional Director of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), region 10, said.

Data gathered by NEDA show that among the region’s nine (9) electric power distribution service utilities (DSU), only the Cagayan de Oro Electric Power and Light, Co. (Cepalco), has achieved a 100 percent LHE in its franchise area.

The other DSU’s had the following LHE: Misamis Occidental Electric Coop., Inc. (Moelci) 2 with 96.02 percent, Moelci 1 with 92.55 percent, Camiguin Electric Coop. (Camelco), 92.25 percent and Misamis Oriental Rural Electric Service Coop. (Moresco) 1, with 91.11 percent.

Moresco 2 with 78.66 percent, First Bukidnon Electric Coop. (Fibeco),78.28 percent, Bukidnon Second Electric Coop. (Buseco), 77.66 percent and Lanao del Norte Electric Coop. (Laneco), 77.53 percent.

In terms of increase in the number of households now having electrical connection in their respective franchise areas, Moresco 1 posted the highest increase of 6.96 percent.

This was followed by Camelco, 6.93 percent, Moelci 1 with 4.57 percent, and Moresco 2 with 4.51 percent, Fibeco, 4.50 percent, Cepalco, 4.19 percent, Laneco, 3.93 percent, Buseco, 3.65 percent, and Moelci 2 with 3.14 percent. (RCAguhob/PIA10-Misamis Occidental)