CHED 10 now accepting scholarship applications for SY 2013-2014

By Jasper Marie Oblina-Rucat

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Feb. 20 (PIA) -- The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Region 10 is now accepting applications for Student Financial Assistance Programs (StuFAPs) for the School Year 2013-2014. 

Dr. Zenaida G. Gersana of CHED 10 said interested applicants should submit documentary requirements including an accomplished StuFAPs application form, two copies of duly certified high school report card for third year students and grades for the first three grading periods for fourth year students, three copies of the latest BIR Income Tax Return (ITR)/Certificate of Tax Exemption of parents and four copies of certificate of good moral character from the high school principal or guidance counselor. 

CHED will prioritize courses on health sciences, information technology, agriculture and related fields, engineering, teacher education, science and math. 

Scholarships include the Full Merit Program amounting to P15,000 per semester and the Half Merit Program which is P7,500 per semester and which also covers Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). 

Meanwhile, the "Tulong Dunong" grant-in-aid program provides P6,000 per semester and covers cultural minority groups, members of the hill tribes, solo parents and their children and senior citizens. 

For those who want to avail Study Now Pay Later (SNPLP), P7,500 per semester will be allocated. 

Gersana said qualified applicants must be a Filipino citizen of good moral character; must be a high school graduate or a candidate for graduation from high school; must have at least 80 percent general weighted average (GWA) based on Form 138, combined gross annual income of parents must not exceed Php 300,000; must not be more than 30 years of age at the time of application except for rebel returnees and senior citizens and should be entering freshmen and/or college student in any curricular year level. 

Application period is January 1 to March 31, 2013. For more details, applicants may visit CHED 10 at the HEDC Bldg., Archbishop James Hayes St., Cagayan de Oro City or call at their number (08822) 711-231 or email chedro10@gmail.com. (JMOR/PIA10)

Comelec sets up 20 checkpoints in Misamis Occidental

By Rutchie C. Aguhob

OROQUIETA CITY, Misamis Occidental, Feb. 20 (PIA) -- At least 20 checkpoints have been set up by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in this province for the election period. 

“In coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP), these checkpoints were set up for the effective implementation of the firearms ban during the election period,” said Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Stalin A. Baguio. 

Pursuant to Resolution No. 9588 promulgated on December 18, 2012, the Comelec will establish at least one checkpoint in each municipality of the country, but that additional checkpoints may be established at the discretion of the highest ranking official of the Armed Forces of the Philippines or the PNP in the city/municipality. 

P/Sr. Supt. Raul A. Benitez, Acting Provincial Director of the PNP in this province, said that of the 20 checkpoints, 11 are set up in the first legislative district while nine are set up in the second legislative district. (RCaguhob/PIA10-Misamis Occidental)

Massive forest rehabilitation for Kalabugao Plain

By Irene Joy Dayo

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Feb. 20 (PIA) -- The Department of Environmental and Natural Resources–Region 10 (DENR-10) revealed parallel project of massive forest rehabilitation all throughout Kalabugao Plain as commitment to the Bantulaay: Peace and Development Convergence Program in Brgy. Kalabugao, Impasug-ong, Bukidnon on Feb. 14.

The Bantulaay, a venue for programs/projects validation and stakeholders’ forum, was conceptualized with the primary objective to secure the support and commitment of the concerned LGUs, NGAs, NGOs and other stakeholders of Kalabugao Plan toward successful implementation of the convergence program.

Meanwhile, the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC)-10 Technical Working Group (TWG) has conceptualized the Peace and Development Convergence Program for Kalabugao Plain that aims to develop Kalabugao Plain (center point of tri-boundary) into an economically, environmentally and culturally developed community.

According to the present Ancestral Domain Sustainable Protection Plan (ADSPP) and Barangay Development Plans (BDP) in Kalabugao, one of the sectors that should be addressed is the environment. Activities and programs like tree growing and reforestation is one of the major needs of the community since the land also has rivers and water shed.

Ferdinand E. Dagulo, officer-in-charge (OIC) of Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) based in Manolo Fortich town, Bukidnon presented a reforestation initiative called National Greening Program (NGP).

NGP is a massive forest rehabilitation program of government that seeks to grow 1.5 billion trees in 1.5 million hectares of land nationwide. The conduct of the said program is within a period of six years, from 2011 to 2016, he said.

In Kalabugao, NGP plantations were already established in the years 2011 and 2012 through the help of various People’s Organizations (POs) and representatives.

According to him, the proposed project for 2013 is composed of plant seedlings with contract cost that amount to P4, 525,000. Locations which serve as beneficiaries include Kaanibungan and Calampigan of Barangay Kalabugao and Barangay Sayawan, Hagpa and Dumalaguing.

In 2011, about 50,000 seedlings were already planted in a 101-hectare land in Impasug-ong which amounted to P287,163.200 and generated 364,088 jobs from producing seedlings for the program and from plantation establishment. Moreover, a total of 89.6 million seedlings have been planted in 128,558 hectares nationwide in the mentioned year.

In 2012, 296,000 trees of various kinds were planted in 483 hectares part of Impasug-ong. The amount released for this plantation amounted to P3, 579,825.

The trees planted included Brazilian, Bagras, Rubber, Rambutan, Durian, Mango, Mahogany, Kupang, Falcata, Gemelina and Bamboo as well as Endemic species like Almaciga, Bitan-ag, Kalingag, Bitanghol, Ulayan, Sagimsim, Coffee, and others. Indigenous species were also included in the plantation.

According also to Dagulo, NGP also has limitations for it will not include those titled land areas. 

NGP is a convergence initiative of DENR which is supported by all government agencies. The project is also part of the government’s climate change mitigation, poverty alleviation, and biodiversity conservation programs. It was established by virtue issued on Feb. 24, 2011 by President Benigno S. Aquino III.

“Kini nga programa, nagtuo ako nga pinaagi sa inyong suporta, atong makab-ot kay kung dili nato kini buhaton, kinsa pa man? Ug kung dili karon, kanus-a pa man kini nato buhaton (I believe that this program will be realized through your support. If we will not do this, who will? If not now, then, when? Dagulo ended.) (Irene Joy Dayo/JMOR-PIA10) 

Govt pledges support to Kalabugao Plain

By Jasper Marie Oblina-Rucat

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Feb. 19 (PIA) -- Kalabugao what? It may not be long before the word Kalabugao is on everyone's lips since this obscure place is being supported from all sides.

The local government and national government agencies in Region 10 have pledged their commitment to help Kalabugao Plain during the Bantulaay: Peace and Development Convergence Program for Kalabugao Plain held in Barangay Kalabugao, Impasug-ong, province of Bukidnon last February 13-14.

Led by the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) Region 10, representatives from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), National Telecommunications (NTC), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), Commission on Human Rights (CHR), Philippine Information Agency (PIA) as well as the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), local government of Impasug-ong town and Bukidnon and non-government organizations like Balay Mindanaw and the church attended the program.

Seven barangays of Kalabugao were clustered and each tackled priority projects they wish to have in their communities. These projects were divided into five sectors, namely: economic, environment, infrastructure, social and institutional.

Under these sectors were programs and projects proposed for livelihood: animal and tilapia fingerlings dispersal, organic agriculture production and rejuvenation of coffee, among others.

A greening program and reforestation was also discussed along with agro-forestry and the establishment of eco-tourism, especially the preservation of Pulangi and Kalabugao River.

They also found a need to put up daycare and health centers, school buildings, low-cost housing projects, farm-to-market roads, construction of cell sites and strengthening of the tribal justice system for the Higaonon tribe.

Misamis Oriental Governor Oscar Moreno, chairman of RPOC 10, said Kalabugao symbolizes far-flung areas of their rural communities. It has weak government presence, poses high incidence of conflicts and obvious poverty but has high potential to develop the Indigenous People with the presence of church and civil society.

Kalabugao Plain is at the tri-boundary of the provinces of Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental and Agusan del Sur. It is also home of the Higaonon tribes led by Datu Palasambag and a strategic watershed area of Pulangi River.

Moreno said Kalabugao Plain is important because it affects other parts of Mindanao. The flood in Gingoog, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro and even in Davao and Cotabato come from it. Attaining peace and order is also essential because people need to live without worrying what happens to their families or homes.

He added that they want to give the message that despite the limitation, they want the government to give and provide help to the people. (JMOR-PIA10)

ARMM brings HELPS convergence program to Lanao del Sur

By Apipa P. Bagumbaran

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Feb. 20 (PIA) -- The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) regional government has brought its convergence program on health, education, livelihood, peace and program here in a bid to bring regional government services closer to constituents. 

The program called ARMM Health, Education, Livelihood, Peace and Governance, and Synergy or ARMM HELPS is the banner program of the present regional government that aims to reach out to the region’s constituents by bringing basic services to the ground. 

The program was launched in the city on February 13 followed by a similar launching in three other towns of Lanao del Sur, namely, Ditsaan-Ramain, Ganassi, and Taraka, on February 14,15 and 16, respectively. 

Among the services provided during the convergence program included free medical and dental services, pneumococcal and tetanus toxoid vaccination, diabetes screening, pre-natal screening, eye examination and surgery, and supplemental feeding for pre-school kids. 

Social pension for indigent senior citizens and PhilHealth cards were also distributed to identified beneficiaries in the province. 

The region’s Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) likewise turned-over a warehouse and a solar dryer to the officials of Barangay Cabingan here and Barangay Rantian in Ditsaan Ramain under the Community Development Assistance (CDA) component of the ARMM Social Fund Project (ASFP). 

Moreover, some 1,100 seedlings of jackfruit, durian, rambutan and mangosteen; 450 packs of palay starter seeds; 10 bags of corn seeds; 1200 pockets of assorted vegetables; 45 bags of OPV corn seed; and 2400 pieces of technoguide amounting to P320,000 were distributed by the region’s Agriculture and Fisheries department to four barangays in the province. 

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in the region, on the other hand, handed out 20 sets of gill net; 100,000 pieces of tilapia fingerlings; and 20 units of fish pots in each of the municipality. 

The region’s Education department also conducted a proper hand washing drill among the students from each barangay and distributed thousands of hygiene kits containing a toothbrush, toothpaste and soap. 

The launching of the ARMM HELPS convergence program in the province was highlighted by the ground-breaking of the national road concreting for the Tubod-Ganassi road section and Masiu-Ganassi road section. The road concreting is under Contract Package 1 for the province of Lanao del Sur amounting to P24 million. 

The ARMM HELPS Convergence Plan was first launched in Al-Barka and Lamitan City in Basilan last February 6 and 7. 

The same program was also launched in the island province of Tawi-Tawi yesterday, February 18, and will be launched in Sulu on February 20 and some other parts of Maguindanao on February 25 and 26. (ARMMCOMMGROUP/APB/PIA10)