President Aquino to keynote opening ceremonies of Livestock 2013 Wednesday

President Benigno S. Aquino III will be the guest of honor and keynote speaker at the opening ceremonies of Livestock 2013 that will be held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City on Wednesday, August 7.

Dubbed as the Philippines’ No.1 Trade Event for Livestock Nutrition, Animal Health and Production and Meat Industry, Livestock Philippines 2013 will bring in over 500 key decision-makers including integrators, farmers, feed millers, manufacturers and traders of feed ingredients, additives, supplements and premixes, meat and meat products processors, farm equipment fabricators and suppliers, slaughterhouse operators, veterinarians, veterinary drugs and products manufacturers, and other industry stakeholders from across the country as well as other neighboring countries.

It will provide a platform to showcase state-of-the-art technology, equipment and machineries deemed to improve production efficiency for those in the livestock industry.

With the theme "Food Security through Feeds Safety," Livestock Philippines 2013 will focus on providing solutions to the continuing challenges faced by the Livestock and Poultry Feeds Manufacturers, Traders of traditional and alternative Feed Ingredients, Additives, Supplements and Pre-mixes, and the Livestock and Poultry Producers and Raisers, in general, which is, to nourish food-animals with safe quality feeds and fulfill the vision of feeding the world with wholesome food of animal origin.

Joining the President will be Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and Assistant Secretary for Livestock Davinio Catbagan.

Aquino leads welcome ceremony for new warship BRP Ramon Alcaraz

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT: President Benigno S. Aquino III led Tuesday the welcome rites for BRP Ramon Alcaraz, the country’s second Hamilton-class cutter that arrived from the United States last week.

In his message during the welcome ceremony, the President challenged the members of the Philippines Navy to live by the spirit of Commodore Ramon Alcaraz’s bravery in the fight against Japanese invaders during World War II.

“Kaya naman ang hamon ko sa buong Hukbong Dagat at sa mga kawal na sasampa sa barkong ito: Isabuhay ninyo ang katapangan at pananagutan ng mga Pilipinong hindi nag-atubiling mag-alay ng dugo’t pawis para sa kapakanan ng kanilang kapwa at bandila,” the President said.

The arrival of the BRP Gregorio del Pilar, the Philippines’s first Hamilton-class cutter, has improved the Navy’s ability to guard the country’s boarder and defend its sovereignty.

With the BRP Ramon Alcaraz augmenting the Philippines’s naval fleet, the country could widen and speed up its patrols in its exclusive economic zone, the President said.

The new ship could help the government fight crimes, heighten its ability to conduct search and rescue operations, and protect its maritime resources, he added.

Since assuming office, the President said his administration focused on improving the military’s ability to do its duty by modernizing its equipment and giving its personnel proper training.

In the last three years of his administration, the President said the government spent P27.62 billion for the AFP Modernization Program. This figure surpassed the expenditure of the previous administration with only P26.2 billion spent in more than nine years.

“Noong nakaraang taon, nilagdaan na rin natin ang Revised AFP Modernization Act, na nagpatibay sa labinlimang taong ekstensiyon ng programa, kaakibat ang paglalaan ng P75 bilyong pondo sa unang limang taon ng implementasyon nito,” he said.

Aside from enhancing their capability, the government also has programs to improve the lives of ordinary soldiers that include giving them decent housing and livelihood, having in mind that by helping soldiers, they could focus more in doing their duties.

The President also expressed his gratitude to the US government for helping the Philippines strengthen its military. The BRP Ramon Alcaraz was turned over to the Philippine government through the Excess Defense Articles program.

Among those who joined the President Tuesday were Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, US Ambassador Harry Thomas, General Emmanuel Bautista, Vice Admiral Jose Luis Alano, Philippine Coast Guard Commandant Rodolfo Isorena and Subic freeport local officials.

The warship was named after Ramon Alcaraz, a member of the Philippine Navy who fought alongside the US forces during the World War II.

Alcaraz, who was part of the offshore patrol of the Philippine Navy, shot down three low-flying Japanese planes off Bataan in January 1942.

He went to the US after leaving the Navy and became part of several movements advocating equity and justice for Filipino war veterans. Although living in the US, Alcaraz never forgot his roots and love of country.

He died on June 25, 2009, in Orange County, California.

Bawal ang Epal Dito Campaign readied for Barangay Elections

By Charmaine P. Tadlas

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Aug 7 (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development is preparing for the upcoming Barangay Elections in October through the “Bawal ang Epal Dito” Campaign.

The “Bawal Ang Epal Dito” campaign has been proven effective in empowering the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, particularly during the midterm elections last May 2013, cited Atty. Araceli Solamillo, DSWD-X Regional Director.

In the campaign, beneficiaries were thoroughly informed that the anti-poverty program of DSWD is developed, initiated, and implemented by agency and the Department can solely de-list beneficiaries based on their non-compliance to the program’s set conditions.

Contrary to some politicians’ alleged pronouncement that they can de-list beneficiaries if they will not vote for the running candidate, the DSWD is emphatic that no politicians can do so since the agency alone, at the regional and national levels, can de-list the beneficiaries from the program.

With the coming barangay elections, it is once again empowering the Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries to be vigilant of any political threats of being de-listed and be responsible in complying to the conditions of the program: to ensure attendance of their children to school, to regularly bring them to a monthly health check-up and attend in the Family Development Sessions conducted by the DSWD.

The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program invests in human capital by providing cash grants to poor families with children aged 0-14. (Charmaine P. Tadlas/RTP/PIA10)

3,871 teachers join grade 8 mass training on DepEd’s K to 12

By Margie R. Valmoria

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Aug. 7 (PIA) -- A total of 3,871 teachers in Northern Mindanao participated in the Department of Education (DepEd) grade eight mass training on K to 12 basic education program (BEP) on April 29 to May 3 and May 6 to 10 this year.

Since President Aquino signed Republic Act 10533 or Enhanced Basic Education Act into law on May 15 making it K to 12, DepED national and regional prime movers immediately mobilized their respective regions.

As its implementation, the department have held administrative meetings and conducted various massive K to 12 trainings for teachers among others.

There were two batches of these trainings and were conducted in various institutions such as Xavier University, Capitol University, Liceo de Cagayan University and Bukidnon State University.

Another mass training on K to 12 BEP for grade two was conducted simultaneously in all 14 divisions in the region on May 20 to 24.

Assistant Secretary Reynaldo Antonio D. Lagudawill presented the Senior High School (SHS) Program to the different Schools Division Superintendents during a Technical Assistance in preparation of SHS cum Regional Management Committee Conference on August 1 to 2 in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

K to 12 encompasses at least one year of kindergarten, six years of elementary education, and six years of secondary education.

Moreover, secondary education includes four years of junior high school and two years of senior high school.

This law aims to provide sufficient time for mastery of concepts and skills, develop lifelong learners, and prepare graduates for tertiary education, middle-level skills development, employment and entrepreneurship.

To date, DepED region 10 has been utilizing all its resources to prepare the different divisions in implementing the SHS Program in 2016. (Margie R. Valmoria/MOGCHS/DepEd/JMOR/PIA10)

NFA assures public for adequate supply of rice

By Jorie C. Valcorza

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Aug. 7 (PIA) -- The National Food Authority (NFA) here denies the reported panic buying of rice due to the recent increase of prices in the markets.

NFA Misamis Oriental, assistant regional director and concurrent officer-In-Charge, Camilo D. Magtrayo assures that there is no truth to the allegations and that the province has enough supply to last even beyond the lean month season, that is June to August.

Magtrayo said NFA will increase rice allocations to NFA accredited outlets starting this week.

Meanwhile, the agency now dispatched price monitoring teams in the province and in all major markets of Cagayan de Oro City to ensure that the low-priced quality rice is made continuously available to the public, as well as, end speculations that may drive prices even higher.

“Prices of rice have normalized with the onset of palay and corn harvest,” he added. (JCV/PIA)

51 engineers attend Construction Performance Evaluation System confab

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Aug 7 -- Fifty-one civil engineers from both the private and public organizations in Northern Mindanao and Butuan City successfully completed the Seminar-Workshop on the “Constructors’ Performance Evaluation System” conducted last July 23 to 25 at the Golden Stallion Suites, this city.

The workshop, initiated by the local chapter of the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE), was conducted by the Philippine Domestic Construction Board (PDCB) of the Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines.

According to PICE-Misamis Oriental/Cagayan de Oro President and District Engineer of the city 1st District Yolando T. Egam the event intended to accredit evaluators of construction projects implemented by the government to comply with the requirements of Republic Act 9184, otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act.

The act is enacted primarily to eradicate graft and corruption in the government procurement system. Likewise, it aims to minimize wastage and thus maximize utilization of government’s meager resources. (Jojo Ortiz/PICE/PIA10)

NEDA-X conducts Local Chief Executives Forum

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Aug. 7 (PIA) -- The National Economic and Development Authority Regional Office X (NEDA-X) conducted on Tuesday, August 6, a Regional Coordination Forum for Local Chief Executives (LCEs) at the RDC-X main conference room, this city.

NEDA-X Director Leon M. Dacanay, Jr. said the forum aims to facilitate information sharing among LCEs on the various development processes and coordination in the region as well as in preparation for the re-organization of the RDC Full Council on August 20.

During the forum, Dacanay briefed the participants about the Regional Development Council (RDC), the highest planning and policy-making body in the region, highlighting the regional development coordination and management functions through the Macro, Economic, Social and Infrastructure Sector Committees of the Council.

He further told them on the mandate and functions of NEDA as the technical secretariat of the RDC.

Dacanay also presented the Northern Mindanao Regional Development Plan for 2011-2016 aimed at achieving inclusive growth where every Filipino participates in and enjoys the fruits of development.

Other presentations during the forum included updates on the Millennium Development Goals; Official Development Assistance and Public-Private Partnership Modalities; Results-based Monitoring and Evaluation; and the Regional Research Agenda.

Present were Mayor Oscar S. Moreno of Cagayan de Oro City; Mayor Celso G. Regencia of Iligan City; Mayor Philip T. Tan of Tangub City; Mayor Maria Luisa D. Romualdo of Mambajao, Camiguin; and representatives of the other local chief executives as well as the Congressional Representatives in the region. (Peleta B. Abejo/NEDA-X/APB/PIA-10)