Ubay-ubay nga mga jobseekers ang mapasalamaton sa kasamtangang administrasyon sa probinsya ubos na sa pagpangalagad ni Gov. Ace Barbers sa mga paningkamot niini nga mahatagan ug trabaho ang uban natong mga kaigsuonang Surigaonon nga sa dugay na walay bisag gamay nga pangita diin ang Provincial Manpower Training Center mipahigayon sa ilang Special Recruitment Authority niadtong adlaw nga huwebes, Pebrero 19, ug 20, 2009 didto na sa ilang buhatan sa Kapitolyo.
Sa maong kalihukan, nakita sa buhatan sa PMTC nga pinanguluhan sa PESO Manager niini nga si Mr. Amor Morales ang nagpadayon karon nga kalisod sa paghanap ug trabaho tungod daghan sa atong mga kaigsuonan ang interesado niini diin mikabat sa halos 159 ka mga aplikante ang malaumon ug madasigon na miadto sa Kapitolyo sa panghinaut nga sila makapasar ug mapili para sa mga available job order.
Sa 159 ka mga aplikante adunay 49 nga mga aplikante ang migawas nga kwalipikado sa mga posisyon sa mga gikinahanglang Nurses para sa USA, Auto Electrician, Bartender, Cashier, Waiter/Waitress, Mason/Carpenter, Tile Fitter/Sitter, Accountants Computer Programmer, Welding Technician, Pipe Fitter, Welders, Diesel Engine Mechanic, Kusinero, Cleaner ug uban pa.
Malaumon si Gob. Ace Barbers nga ang maong kalihukan nakahatag ug dakong tabang sa mga katawhan hilabi na karong panahona nga kita nahiagum sa dakong epekto sa krisis nga dili lamang mitumaw sa atong katilingban kung dili pati na sa tibuok kalibutan. Dako ang kalipay ug kadasig ang nasinati sa maong mga suwerteng napili tungod ilang nakita nga ang maalagarong gobernador nagtuman gayud sa iyang mga saad ug pinaagi niini, ilang namatud-an nga ang iyang serbisyo tiunay alang sa kalambo-an sa tanan. (SdN PGO-Media Bureau) Read rest of story...
CANADIAN MINER Mindoro Resources Ltd. will prioritize the exploration of its local gold and copper mines to take advantage of rising gold prices in world markets.
"Clearly, the market has no appetite for nickel right now, so we are not going to attempt to finance the advancement of our nickel project by ourselves at this time," Tony Climie, president and chief executive officer of subsidiary MRL Gold Phils., told reporters on the sidelines of a mining investment conference in Makati on Friday.
Local unit MRL Gold will spend $450,000, which it had raised through the Toronto Stock Exchange last week, to explore the Agata copper and gold mine in Surigao del Norte.
But given low share prices, the company is "issuing a lot of stocks and we are diluting the company, but we are moving the project forward [instead of] letting it stagnate," Mr. Climie said.
The price of nickel for cash buyers has dropped by more than half to $10,100 from $22,500 per metric ton in June and by more than two-thirds from $31,000 during the same period last year amid dampened demand, data from the London Metal Exchange showed.
MRL seeks to extract 7,000 to 10,000 metric tons of nickel yearly for at least 25 years from its Agata nickel mine in Surigao.
Meanwhile, MRL Gold may sign a deal with Australian Gold Fields Limited, one of the world’s largest gold producers, to acquire three-quarters of each of the company’s El Paso, Lobo and Talahib porphyry, copper and gold projects in Batangas.
Joint venture partner British Avocet Mining PLC is also drilling at the Kay Tanda gold project in Batangas. The company will spend $30 to $50 million to develop the property.
MRL, which has been exploring nickel, iron, gold and copper deposits in the country since 1996, is listed on the stock exchanges of Frankfurt and Toronto. — Neil Jerome C. Morales, Business Word Read rest of story...
Gokongwei-owned Cebu Pacific (CEB), the Philippines’ largest domestic airline, and the Philippines’ #1 carrier to the ASEAN region, extends its domestic and international system-wide seat sale which supposedly ended yesterday.
Here is the complete list of routes covered by the seat sale:
DOMESTIC
P188 GO LITE! -Manila to Busuanga, Cebu, Iloilo, Laoag, Legazpi, or Naga -Manila to Cauayan, San Jose (Mindoro) or Tuguegarao -Cebu to Bacolod, Butuan, or Cagayan de Oro -Cebu to Dumaguete, Iloilo, Surigao, or Tacloban
P488 GO LITE! -Manila to Bacolod, Boracay (Caticlan), Dumaguete, Kalibo -Manila to Calbayog, Catarman, or Virac (Catanduanes) -Manila to Puerto Princesa, Tacloban, or Tagbilaran -Cebu to Boracay (Caticlan), Clark, Cotabato, Davao, Dipolog, or General Santos -Cebu to Legazpi, Ozamiz, Puerto Princesa, Siargao, or Zamboanga -Davao to Iloilo, or Zamboanga
P1,188 GO LITE! -Manila to Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Cotabato, Davao, or Dipolog -Manila to General Santos, or Zamboanga
*Go Lite fares are available upon booking for guests travelling without check-in baggage. **Add P200 if travelling with check-in baggage. Sale Period: February 25-Marcch 1, 2009 Travel Period: May 1-September 30, 2009 (Summer to Year End)
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INTERNATIONAL
P1,999 -Manila to Osaka
*Fare(s) listed above are exclusive of government taxes/surcharge. Sale Period: February 16-28, 2009 Travel Period: February 16-April 30, 2009
———-
P1,799 GO LITE! -Manila to Bangkok, Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh, Kaohsiung, or Kota Kinabalu -Manila to Kuala Lumpur, Macau, Singapore, or Taipei -Clark to Bangkok, Macau, Hong Kong or, Singapore -Cebu to Hong Kong
P2,799 GO LITE! -Manila to Guangzhou -Cebu to Singapore
P3,799 GO LITE! -Manila to Jakarta, or Shanghai *Go Lite fares are available upon booking for guests travelling without check-in baggage. **Add P200 if travelling with check-in baggage. ***Fare(s) listed above are exclusive of government taxes/surcharge. Sale Period: February 25-March 1, 2009 Travel Period: May 1-September 30, 2009 Read rest of story...
On February 24, 2009 at 10:40 in the evening at Barangay Carmen, Loreto, Dinagat Islands, a certain Arnel Cortez, 30 years old, married, and resident of Sitio Busay, Barangay Carmen, Loreto, Dinagat Islands was fatally shot on his neck over an undetermined motive by the suspect. Victim suffered a gunshot wound on his neck and died later. The suspect was identified as Ezekiel Acros, 42 years old, single, also a resident of the same place.
Residents of Barangay Carmen rushed Cortez to Loreto District Hospital where he was pronounced Dead on Arrival (DOA) by the attending physician.
Suspect voluntarily surrendered to Loreto Municipal Police Station including the weapon used a caliber .45 pistol with serial number CJ131461. (PNP-13/PIA-Caraga)
Surigao del Norte advocates are set to sign a covenant on Monday, March 1 declaring an all out-war against human trafficking
Representatives of various organizations from different sectors including faith-based organizations, multinational companies, marketing organizations, transport industries, communities, law enforcers, government agencies, private organizations, and media are in unison to stop the endless flow of Filipino women and children who are trapped in the hands of criminal traffickers and suffer inhumane treatment as sex slaves and bonded laborers, stripped of their freedom and dignity under the guise of safe migration.
The commitment signing is part of 2009 Women’s Month celebration activities of the province. This year's celebration is anchored on the theme "Babae, Yaman Ka Ng Bayan."
Visayan Forum Foundation Inc. (VFFI), an NGO who works for the protection and justice of the trafficked women and children, said the covenant will put into action the pledges of the different stakeholders to inform the public; report and prevent trafficking activities; and protect and empower victims of human trafficking. (PIA-Surigao del Norte with reports from VFFI)
Sa kanunayng tinguha ni Gob. Ace Barbers nga mahatagan ang tibuok katawhan sa Surigao del Norte sa ilang mga panginahanglanon tungod sa hilabihang kalisod sa panahon karon, siya hugot nga nagmando nga iyang mga programa kanunay nga magpadayon ug mapatuman sa tanan kalungsuran sa probinsya hilabi na ang mga programa sa maayong panglawas.
Ang buhatan sa Provincial Health Office uban sa pakigtambayayong sa uban pang mga departamento sa Kapitolyo mituyo ug bisita sa Lungsod sa Socorro aron sa paghatag sa ilang medical, dental ug libreng tuli alang sa tanan agig pagselebrar sa Adlaw nan Socorro niadtong adlaw nga Biyernes, Pebrero 20, 2009.
Sa maong kalihukan, adunay halos 781 ka pasyente ang ilang giatiman ug gitambalan diin mikabat sa 224 ka pasyente ang nagpaibot sa ilang mga ngipon, 27 ka tawo ang nagpa dental consultation, 124 ka bata ang gituli ug adunay 76 ka mga kababainhan ang nag pa papsmear.
Dugang pa niini, sa maong kalihukan, ang PHO uban sa pakig-hiusa sa mga empleado sa Caraga Regional Hospital Blood Bank mipahigayon usab sa ilang bloodletting activity diin adunay 44 nga mag residente sa Socorro ang boluntaryong mi donate sa ilang dugo.
Gikalipay pag-ayo sa mga residente sa Lungsod sa Socorro ang kinasingkasing nga pagbisita sa medical practitioners pinaagi na sa atong Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Audie Relliquete aron sa pagpanghatag og mga libreng tambal kanila. Dako gayod ang ilang pasalamat sa atong maalagarong gobernador, Robert Ace Barbers tungod sa kayo ug kabuotan niini nga way laing gihuna-huna kung dili ang kaayuhan sa tibuok katawhan.(SdN PGO-Media Bureau)
Cebu Pacific (CEB) has opened its reservation system to corporate clients, allowing them primary access to its lowest fares and promotional seat sales, and saving as much as 30 percent.
The booking facility enables corporate clients to directly book their flights and change travel itinerary details on their own.
CEB hopes to more than double the number of its corporate and institutional accounts to more than 500 accounts in 2009.
“We expect our revenues to increase by more than double from these accounts,” said Candice Iyog, CEB VP for marketing and distribution.
“Given the current economic environment, we see more businesses opting for value-oriented services in order to stay competitive. This is why CEB continues to offer the lowest fares in every destination it operates. We are committed to stimulating air travel because we know this is good for every Juan.” Iyog added.
CEB will also extend a credit line of up to P1 million to companies that will sign up with the program. Companies will also have direct access to the airline’s route network consisting of 15 cities in Asia and 31 domestic destinations with direct flights from Clark, Cebu, Davao, and Manila.
The airline currently has the youngest fleet in the country, comprised of 21 Airbus A320s and 7ATR aircraft. Read rest of story...
INTERNET services giant Google Inc. has launched the Google Earth 5.0 with an update called Ocean. The new feature allows users to look at 3D images of the underwater terrain and view the world’s large bodies of water.
Two additional features were also added to Google Earth 5.0. They include the Historical Imagery and Touring. The former is a virtual time travel to areas using archived satellite imagery. The latter is a feature that allows users to experience a voice-over tour of Google Earth.
Users can view photos and videos embedded n Google Earth 5.0. There are also additional materials from about 80 oceanographic organizations and a National Geographic Magazine quiz feature. There are also archival videos from the famous oceanographer Jacques Cousteau. There is also a new Google Earth “GSP tracking” feature, which was initially available on the paid versions of Google Earth.
Incidentally, Google added these features to highlight environmental issues. Google has already invited to the launch of Google Earth 5.0 former vice president and environment advocate Al Gore who spoke of the new Historical Imagery feature, which also shows the drastic environmental changes happening to the planet.
In light of these new Google Earth features, Google CEO Eric Schmidt talked about the biodiversity loss in the world’s oceans and said that the Internet company can help change people’s perception of the environment.
Some Philippine oceanographic landmarks are also highlighted in Google Earth 5.0. Among these are Apo Coral Reef and dive spots in the island resort of Boracay and Siargao.
The Google Earth 5.0 software can be downloaded for free.
Police Regional Office 13 (PRO 13) was as one of the beneficiaries of the 12 Toyota Hilux, 12 motorcycles and two units of Innova PNP vehicles held recently during the Traditional Monday Flag Raising Ceremony at the Regional Head Quarter.
The distribution was in accordance with the Issuance Directives Number DL2-2009-01-477 to 488-PNP for the beneficiary of 12 Toyota Patrol Jeep (4X2) Hilux, Issuance Directives Number DL2-2008-01-720 to 731 for the beneficiary of 12 XR 200cc Honda motorcycle and Issuance Directives Number DL2-2009-01-614 to 615 for the beneficiary of two Light Transport Vehicles Toyota Innova from the Directorate for Logistics, National Headquarters, Camp Crame, Quezon City.
PCSUPT Jaime Eloreta Milla, PRO 13 Regional Director managed the distributions together with the Chief Logistics PSUPT Ronaldo Rivero Cabral, also of PRO 13.
This activity is in relation with the PNP Facilities Development the number 3 Key Result Area in the Integrated Transformation Program of the PNP. Among those recipients of said PNP HILUX vehicles are the municipalities of Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte; Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte; Bayugan City; Loreto, Dinagat Islands; Libjo, Dinagat Islands; 144th RMG COY; Alegria, Surigao del Norte; Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte; San Benito, Surigao del Norte; Socorro, Surigao del Norte; Tubod, Surigao del Norte; and Lanuza, Surigao del Sur.
For the Honda XR 200, also 11 municipalities and one city received the vehicles which are Cabadbaran City; Magallanes, Agusan del Norte; Tubay, Agusan del Norte; La Paz, Agusan del Sur; Sibagat and Talacogon, Agusan del Sur; Basilisa, Surigao del Norte; Tubajon, Dinagat Islands; Malimono, Surigao del Norte; Tagana-an, Surigao del Norte; Lianga, Surigao del Sur; and Marihatag, Surigao del Sur.
Meanwhile, Surigao City and San Jose, Dinagat Islands received the Toyota Innova.
The activities are graced by the presence of their local executives such as Mayors, Vice Mayors and Sanggunian Bayan (SB) Members of the receiving municipality. Also present during the program is National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) Assistant Regional Director Florita Micayabas.
The aim of which is to upgrade physical facilities and equipment in support to Police Field Operations, including the updating of Police Equipment Standards and the development of a Multi-Year Financing and Procurement Plan, development and upgrading of the facilities, equipment and physical set-up of the PNP and the provision of model infrastructure for Police Stations and Sub-Stations in the country. (PCINSP Nelly T Villagarcia, PNP-13)
Low Cost Carrier Air Philippines intends to fly Manila-Surigao 4 times weekly starting March this year. The airline founded in 1995, will substitute PAL Express Q400 service and operates on code share agreement with Philippine Airlines.
A Boeing 727-200 jet aircraft, which seat 118 passengers in a monoclass layout, will be deployed on the route. The schedule will eventually be increase to daily flight this summer.
Air Philippines President & CEO Capt. Edilberto R. Medina said that it just concluded a probing flight to Surigao City on 16 February and they intend to launch flight there as soon as possible.
Surigao will becomes Air Philippines’ 9th domestic destination in the airline’s expanding route network based at hubs in Manila and Cebu. The airline has recently suspended its commercial operations to three major Mindanao cities in July last year and reduced much of its frequency for its main Visayas-Mindanao service due to massive losses and intense competition with Cebu Pacific. It canceled its services from Manila to the cities of Davao (daily), Zamboanga (daily) and Cagayan de Oro (twice daily). It also decreased flights between Cebu City and Davao City. It also reduced the frequency of its Manila-Puerto Princesa City service leaving only one daily flights for the route. It just restarted Manila-Davao late last year.
Airline industry sources said the airline’s decision to cut its route network was part of cost-cutting amid the skyrocketing price of aviation fuel. The airline has been hit particularly hard by high petroleum prices in 2008 because its jet fleet consists mostly of 20-year-old Boeing 737-200s, whose engines are substantially less fuel-efficient than their modern counterparts.
The airline retained only its profitable routes and currently flies to Puerto Princesa, Iloilo, Davao, Naga, and Ozamiz. It has 7 active Boeing 737-200 advance and 1 Boeing 737-300 aircraft on its fleet. Presently, it operates only 4 aircraft and grounded 4 others. Air Philippines has announced a plan to completely ground its 737s by 2010 but deferred its implementation due to massive losses in 2008. The airline is expected to receive two A320 this year.
Air Philippines carried 913,570 passengers in 2008. It will resume twice daily flights from Cebu to Davao and Iloilo starting March 16, 2009.(philippineairspace.blogspot.com) Read rest of story...
On February 19, 2009 at 11:30 in the morning at Paragua, Barangay San Antonio, Libjo Dinagat Islands, joint team from Libjo Municipal Police Station led by PO3 Walter Casino and Sangguniang Bayan members led by SB Rogelio Magpatoc and SB Francisco Areglo recovered an abandoned illegally cut sawn lumbers at the above-mentioned place with estimated volume of 639 board feet and estimated market value of Php 10,863.00.
Recovered lumber were brought to Libjo Municipal Police Station for recording/documentation and subsequently turned-over to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the area for proper disposition.
Also, on February 22, 2009 at 2:45 in the morning at Purok-6, Barangay Bangonay, Jabonga, Agusan del Norte, PNP personnel of Jabonga Municipal Police Station led by PINSP Jonathan Satentes while conducting mobile patrol at said place, intercepted one unit ten wheeler truck, driven by a certain Johny Generisan, with plate number CTA 687, loaded with assorted sizes of lawaan lumbers with an estimated volume of 4,000 board feet.
Upon verification, no legal document was presented, prompting the PNP personnel to bring the cargo truck and driver to Jabonga Municipal Police Station. Coordination with DENR was conducted for proper disposition. (PNP-13/ PIA-13) Read rest of story...
On February 20, 2009 at 11:00 in the morning at Vasquez Street, Surigao City, Danara Travel and Tours located at the above place was robbed by three unidentified armed men carting cash money of Php 3,700.00 from the employees of Danara Travel and Tours and two units cellular phones (nokia 3310 and 6120).
Further, several items were also carted from another victim who was present at the time of the incident identified as Mae Arreza Pichay, 46 years old, single and a resident of 15 Alaska Street, Oro Vista Royal Subdivision, Antipolo City.
The carted items were cash money of Php 20,000.00; Gucci bag worth Php 40,000.00; Versace reading glass worth Php 15,000.00; Pearl earrings worth Php 25,000.00; RCBC ATM Card; Visa Credit Card; and other important documents.
Suspects immediately fled after the incident onboard a single motorcycle. Hot pursuit operation is still conducted by Surigao City Police Station for the possible arrest of the suspects. (PNP-13/ PIA-13) Read rest of story...
The estimated 400 families of Mamanwas in five towns in Surigao del Norte ought to be celebrating: they now have P51.5 million, the “largest royalty payment” made by a mining firm to a Philippine tribe, in their bank account. And there will be more payments, for 2008 and every year thereafter, not only from the Taganito Mining Corporation (TMC) but the two other mining firms operating in their ancestral domain.
But no one is celebrating. Instead, there is “kagubot” (trouble).
Datu Emiliano Gedi, the head claimant of the Mamanwas’ ancestral domain over five towns in Surigao del Norte and chair of the Provincial Consultative Body of the Asosasyon sa Madazaw na Panagkaisa nan mga Tribong Mamanwa sa Taganito ug Urbiztondo (Ampantrimtu), told MindaNews in a telephone interview that he hopes they can convene a general assembly to settle the issue among themselves.
The amount, representing 1% of the reported gross production of TMC from July 2006 to December 2007, was deposited to the account of Ampantrimtu in the Land Bank of the Philippines branch in Surigao City on February 19.
The amount does not include as yet the 2008 royalty.
But Datu Reynante Buklas of Taganito told MindaNews in a telephone interview on February 20 that he and Datu Alfredo Olorico of Urbiztondo, will not lift the barricade at the entrance of TMC’s production site, claiming the royalty should be deposited to their joint account at the Philippine Veterans Bank in Butuan City. The barricade was set up on January 29.
He said Datu Emiliano is not from Taganito or Urbiztondo but Gigaquit. Datu Emiliano acknowledged he is from Gigaquit but added that the Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) covers not just Taganito and Urbiztondo.
He added that the two Datus should have attended the December 23 assembly where the decision to open an account for the royalty payment and who would be its signatories was discussed and approved by the body.
Datu Emiliano said that while the two Datus did not show up, about 300 community members did, as well as representatives from the local government, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and the mining firm.
The assembly, he said, decided to open a bank account for the royalty payment and named there persons to be the signatories: Datu Emiliano; Vicente Baldoza, the provincial director of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and a “community representative” named Dodoy Bago, of Urbiztondo.
Had the two Datus been there, he said, they may have been named signatories, too.
The two Datus told MindaNews on February 14 and 17 at the barricade in Taganito, Claver, Surigao del Norte and in a telephone interview on February 20 with Datu Reynante, that they are the chieftains and that the money should be deposited to their account. They are being supported by Butuan City-based contractor, Engr. Sergio Pascual, a former contractor of TMC, who claims he has a special power of attorney from the tribal leaders in the CADT areas.
Under the Memorandum of Agreement, Pascual is to receive 30% as management/negotiation fee, among others.
But the NCIP in an en banc resolution on November 13 ruled that the special power of attorney and the Memorandum of Agreement between Pascual, who is not a member of the Indigenous Peoples, and the Mamanwas “violated the provisions of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997 and NCIP Administrative Order No. 1, Series of 2006,” and declared it “contrary to the customs, traditions and practices of the Mamanwa Tribe.”
Datu Emiliano told MindaNews that of the 18 tribal leaders in the five towns covered by their CADT, only the two Datus are insisting on having the money deposited to their account.
But he assured the two Datus they have nothing to worry about because even if they are not signatories, no withdrawal of the money can be done without a resolution from the group.
Jose Dumagan, acting regional director of the NCIP based in Butuan City, told MindaNews in a telephone interview Friday that Datu Reynante or Datu Olorico can be the fourth signatory if they want. He said he would ask the NCIP commissioners, who passed an en banc resolution on January 30 directing TMC to deposit the royalty to the Ampantrimtu bank account, to allow a fourth signatory.
MindaNews tried to communicate with Datu Reynante twice on Sunday but could not reach him.
But Pascual, who was in the company of Datu Reynante when MindaNews interviewed the latter by telephone on Friday, told MindaNews Sunday that the two Datus will not lift the barricade until TMC deposits the P51.5 million to the Datus’ account at the Philippine Veterans Bank in Butuan City.
“Why did they deposit the money to other people?” Pascual asked, adding that Datu Emiliano is “not a tribal chieftain and is not a member of the association.”
Documents pertaining to the case, including the July 2006 Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between TMC and Ampantrimptu and the NCIP as third party, identify Datu Emiliano Gedi, as the head claimant and chair of the Provincial Consultative Body of the Ampantrimtu. Documents also show that the two other signatories in the July 2006 MOA were Datus Olorico and Rizal Buklas, Reynante’s father.
Pascual said Datus Reynante and Olorico will file charges of estafa against the NCIP commissioners, the acting NCIP regional director, the TMC president, the Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau, and even the Land Bank for allowing the deposit of the royalty to Ampantrimtu.
Ampantrimtu is the organization of Mamanwas that forged a Memorandum of Agreement with TMC and the NCIP on July 18, 2006, when TMC was applying for a Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) for the “exploration, development and commercial utilization of nickel ores/deposits located at Barangays Urbiztondo and Hayanggabon,” covering 4,975.03 hectares. Under the law, no MPSA can be granted without the free and prior informed consent of the tribe. Two months after the MOA signing, Ampantrimtu was issued its CADT on September 22, 2006. The TMC’s MPSA was approved July 28, 2008.
The Mamanwa tribe’s CADT covers a total of 48,870,026.3 hectares in the towns of Alegria, Bacuag, Claver, Gigaquit and Tubod in Surigao del Norte.
The July 2006 MOA, however, stipulated only an annual “financial assistance” to the indigenous peoples in the area, amounting to P500,000, released in two equal tranches every last week of June and second week of December, until 2031.
Pascual is credited by Datus Reynante and Olorico for having informed them that under the Mining Act of 1995 and Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) of 1997, they were entitled to 1% royalty from the gross output instead of the measly half a million peso “financial assistance.” Datus Reynante and Olorico told MindaNews at the barricade in Taganito, Claver, Surigao del Norte on February 17 that food provisions for their stay at the barricade are “utang” (debt) they owe Pascual. The Datus said they need two sacks of rice a day.
Datu Reynante told MindaNews he has a total of 46 Mamanwa families under him while Datu Olorico said he has 56 or a total of 102. Not everyone is at the barricade; they come mostly from Taganito.
The Mamanwas number about 400 families or around 5,000 individuals, Datu Emiliano said.
As of February 17, at least 30 makeshift structures had been set up at the entrance to the TMC production site.
Pascual told MindaNews the remedy is for the NCIP commissioners and acting regional director to be replaced with a new set officials so there can be a “bagong pag-uumpisa” (new beginning).
He said they will sue for payment of royalty “retroactive to 1995” when the Mining Act was passed, “not retroactive to July 2006” when TMC entered into a MOA with Ampantrimtu.
Pascual said TMC should recognize the two Datus as the leaders of Taganito and Urbiztondo, and deposit the amount to their account so the barricade would be lifted. He said the two other mining firms “recognized” the two Datus and that a day earlier, on February 21, an official from the Platinum Group Metals Corporation (PGMC) from whom the tribe reportedly has a collectible of “almost 10 million pesos,” royalty, paid a “partial amount.”
How much “partial” amount was paid, Pascual declined to say. He also declined to name the PGMC official who allegedly paid “partial” (royalty).
Datu Emiliano says that the customary practice of the tribe to deal with the “kagubot” is through “husay” (dispute settlement) and that the December 23 assembly was part of that. The two Datus, however, did not show up there but their community members did, he said.
Datu Emiliano says he hopes they can convene an assembly soon to settle the dispute but adds they have no money.
They actually have P51.5 million. In the bank. (Carolyn O. Arguillas/MindaNews)
The Regional 13 office of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH 13) in Northeastern Mindanao (Caraga Region) is set to open initial 1,424 job openings today, it was learned yesterday.
The job fair will be opened at the DPWH regional office here at 8 a.m. today and those applicants that will pass the criteria will be deployed in Agusan del Norte, Butuan City, Surigao del Sur and Dinagat Islands, it was also learned.
The DPWH 13 needs civil engineers, foremen, laboratory technicians, heavy equipment operators, masons, steelmen, welders, drivers, auto electricians, carpenters, surveyors and construction workers, it was gathered.
In the initial recruitment, at least 898 job openings are available for Agusan del Norte; 341 in Butuan City; 47 in Surigao del Sur and 138 in Dinagat Islands.
The next batch of job openings will be announced by the DPWH regional office soon.
The DPWH is fast-tracking this month the bidding of P60 billion worth of projects set for implementation during the first half of this year to accommodate more job openings, it was also learned.
To give more strength to the Arroyo administration’s job and employment generation program, a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was inked between the DPWH, National Constructors Association of the Philippines (NACAP), Philippine Contractors Association (PCA) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE).
The objective of the MoA is to provide skilled and non-skilled workers a chance to secure positions with the contractors, given the need for increased manpower to accomplish the government-awarded contracts.
Workers hired during initial job fair today will work with various construction firms for the duration of their contracts, it was also learned.
Hired workers and personnel will receive at least the minimum wage in their respective areas of designation or possibly more depending on the firms that they will fork for, it was further learned.
The DPWH is set to hire more than 500,000 skilled and non-skilled workers nationwide this year, it was also learned. (Mike U. Crismundo, MB) Read rest of story...
The Cebu Blue Marlins Swimming Club made the biggest splash on opening day, winning 25 gold medals in the 1st Osky Mabilog Memorial Cup National Age Group Swimming Competition yesterday at the Cebu City Aquatic Center.
The two-day swimming event is participated by 153 swimmers coming from the different notable clubs around the country such as the University of San Jose, Aqua Sports Swim Club of Iloilo City, Iloilo Sea Warriors Swim Club, Negros Panaad Sea Eagles Swim Club, Palawan Swim Club, Negros Oriental Golf and Country Club Swim Club, Binirayan Todpoles Swim Club of Capiz, ,Negros Blue Dolphin Swim Club, Dipolog Blue Marllines Swim Club, Iligan Swim Club, Tangub City Swim Club, Surigao City Swim Team, Cagayan de Oro (CDO) Swim Club, Iligan Spring Eels swim club, Blue Shorts, Northshore Waves Swimming club, Dajangas swimming club and the Zamboanga City Team.
Anthony Linn Navarro contributed multiple gold medals in the first day of action after dominating the boys 9-10 200 meter Individual medley, Boys 9-10 100 meter breaststroke, 50 meter breaststroke and in the mixed 8 and under 200 meter medley relay together with Tara Kyla Ebon, Karen Mae Indaya and Renan Gabriel Tapang.
Aside from the 25 gold medals, CBMSC also gathered 17 silvers and 4 bronze medals.
Action resumes today at the same venue.
This will be the first major swimming event hosted by the Cebu City Local Government Unit in cooperation with the Cebu City Sports Center in line with the Cebu City Charter Day Celebration.
It is organized by the CBMSC in honor of the late Oscar Mabilog, one of the founders of Cebu Blue Marlin Swimming Club. Read rest of story...
The mining firm has deposited P51.5 million to the Surigao City bank account of the Mamanwa association but Datu Reynante Buklas told MindaNews in a telephone interview that they will continue to barricade the production site of the Taganito Mining Corporation (TMC) in Claver, Surigao del Norte until the amount is deposited to the joint account of Datu Alfredo Olorico and himself in Butuan City.
At least 30 makeshift structures had been set up by the Mamanwa on the road leading to the production site since January 29, as they demanded payment of the 1% royalty due them.
The TMC on February 19 deposited the amount of P51.5 million representing the 1% royalty from its gross production from July 2006 to December 2007, to the Land Bank of the Philippines account of the Asosasyon sa Madazaw na Panagkaisa nan mga Tribong Mamanwa sa Taganito ug Urbiztondo (Ampantrimtu) in Surigao City.
Engr. Sergio Pascual, a Butuan-based contractor who claims to represent the Mamanwa, is the major supporter of the Mamanwas at the barricade. Datus Reynante and Olorico said they need two sacks of rice a day which they said, is “utang” (debt) they owe Pascual.
MindaNews interviewed Datu Reynante by phone late Friday afternoon. At the time of the call, he was with Pascual who then told MindaNews they will file cases against TMC president Gerard Brimo; Jose Dumagan, acting regional director of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and all the NCIP commissioners for allowing the deposit of the amount to the account of Ampantrimtu.
Asked what cases they would file against the NCIP and TMC president, Pascual told MindaNews, “the tribe’s three lawyers are preparing legal actions against them.” But complaints have been filed in the Ombudsman against Dumagan, he said.
Ampantrimtu is the organization of Mamanwas that forged a Memorandum of Agreement with TMC and the NCIP on July 18, 2006, when TMC was applying for a Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) for the “exploration, development and commercial utilization of nickel ores/deposits located at Barangays Urbiztondo and Hayanggabon,” covering 4,975.03 hectares.
Under the law, no MPSA can be granted without the free and prior informed consent of the tribe.
The Mamanwa tribe holds a Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) over 48,870,026.3 hectares in the towns of Alegria, Bacuag, Claver, Guigakuit and Tubod in Surigao del Norte. The CADT was issued on September 22, 2006. The TMC’s MPSA was approved July 28, 2008.
The July 2006 MOA, signed by Datu Olorico, Datu Rizal Buklas (father of Datu Reynante) – leaders of the area where TMC is operating -- and Datu Emiliano Gedi, the CADT head claimant, stipulated only an annual “financial assistance amounting to P500,000” released in two equal tranches every last week of June and second week of December, until 2031.
Datu Reynante told MindaNews in a telephone interview Friday that TMC should have deposited the money to his and Olorico’s account because Ampantrimtu, he said in Cebuano, was “organized by TMC.”
The July 2006 MOA showed the signatories were Datu Reynante’s father, Datu Rizal Buklas, and Datu Olorico.
Datu Reynante and Datu Olorico told MindaNews they received a total of P1.5 million “financial assistance” for 2006, 2007 and 2008 but did not know they were entitled to a 1% royalty until Pascual, a former contractor of TMC, told them they deserved more than P500,000 a month under the Mining Act of 1995 and the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) of 1997.
Pascual told MindaNews at the barricade site last Saturday that he represents the tribe and has a special power of attorney from and a Memorandum of Agreement with the Datus.
He set up Caraga Indigenous People Management and Development Corporation and summoned the officials of TMC and two other mining firms operating in the area-- Oriental Synergy Mining Corporation and Platinum Group Metals Corporation – to a meeting in October 2008 to inform the Mamanwas’ demand for the 1% royalty due them.
But the NCIP on November 13 passed Resolution 325 en banc, declaring that the special power of attorney that designated Pascual as Attrney-in Fact of the Mamanwas and the MOA resulting therefrom “violates the provisions of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act and NCIP Administrative Order NO. 1, Series of 2006” and also declared that it is “contrary to the customs, tradition and practices of the Mamanwa tribe.”
Pascual told MindaNews in a telephone interview Friday that the NCIP should be reminded that the royalty is “not a government fund but a private fund of the Lumads.”
He said the NCIP en banc had no right to nullify the special power of attorney from and memorandum of agreement he entered into with the Mamanwa and that Jose Dumagan, acting regional director of the NCIP has been declared “persona non grata” by the Mamanwa leaders.
“Why can’t Engr. Pascual and the IPs be given a chance,” he asked. Last Saturday, he told Mindanews that among their plans is to build a township at the site of the housing project the TMC constructed for the Mamanwas.
Also on November 13, the NCIP passed Resolution 324 authorizing Dumagan to “renegotiate, execute, and/or enter into favorable terms and conditions for and in behalf of the Mamnwa tribe of Surigao del Norte and the NCIP.”
The resolution acknowledged that “some of the terms and conditions” of the July 2006 MOA are “not in consonance with the provisions of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 as well as with Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997 (RA 8371) which provides for the protection and promotion of the interest of the ICCs/IP,” particularly citing the P500,000 annual financial assistance when it should be 1% of the gross production/output as IP royalty/share.
Following Resolution 324, the TMC and NCIP signed a Joint Undertaking on December 8, 2008, acknowledging that the P500,000 annual financial assistance “does not accurately represent the amount due to the Mamanwa Tribe (Ampantrimtu) as their IP loyalty/share” and that “it is the desire” of TMC to “faithfully comply with its legal obligations to the Mamanawa Tribe based on the provisions of both the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 and the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997.”
The Joint Undertaking was signed by TMC president Gerardo Brimo and NCIP’s Dumagan, in the presence of CADT Head Claimant Datu Emiliano Gedi and MGB’s Ensomo.
On January 30, 2009, the NCIP passed en banc, Resolution 009, directing TMC to deposit the royalty to the bank account of Ampantrimtu.
The NCIP also directed the Land Bank of the Philippines branch in Surigao City “not to release any part of the said royalty funds…without the signatures of Datu Emiliano Gedi, the CADT head claimant, Dodoy Bago (Mamanwas’ community representative) and Vicente B. Baldoza, Jr., (NCIP’s OIC provincial officer).”
Dumagan told MindaNews Bago was chosen by the community to represent them during an assembly held on December 23, in the presence the Mamanwa community, representatives of the local government unit and other sectors.
Dumagan said the assembly was called for to notify the community on the developments regarding the royalty share and to open a bank account for the royalty payment. He said Datu Olorico and Datu Reynante were invited but they did not attend.
Dumagan said Datu Reynante or Datu Olorico to be the fourth signatory if that is what they want. He said he will ask the NCIP to pass a resolution to make one of them the fourth signatory. (Carolyn O. Arguillas/MindaNews) Read rest of story...
TAGANITO, Claver, Surigao del Norte (MindaNews/19 February) – Representatives of the Mamanwa tribe here have vowed to continue the barricade they set up since January 29 until the Taganito Mining Corporation (TMC) pays the royalty/share due them.
TMC officials said they are willing and ready to pay the P51.5 million royalty from July 2006 to December 2007 but are awaiting guidance from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) on whose bank account the amount would be deposited.
The amount represents 1% of the audited shipment report of TMC from July 2006 to December 2006 when the gross value of the beneficiated nickel silicate ore shipped to Japan and limonite shipped to Australia was P905,396,957.33 and in 2007when the gross value of the shipments of the same to Japan and Australia plus a shipment of low grade soft ore to China totaled P4,248,232,289.08.
The record was forwarded to NCIP acting regional director Jose Dumagan by Alilo Ensomo, Jr., OIC Regional Director of the Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau in a letter dated December 17, 2008.
The share from the 2008 output, has yet to be computed. Ensomo said TMC has committed to submit the final audited shipment report for 2008 by “the first quarter of 2009.”
TMC resident mine manager Armando Pereda told MindaNews Tuesday afternoon that they are ready to pay “anytime once we receive the instruction from NCIP.”
Datu Reynante Buklas and Datu Alfredo Olorico in a January 19 letter to TMC requested that the P51.5 million be deposited to their joint account at the Philippine Veterans Bank branch in Butuan City.
On January 26, however, Vicente Baldoza, acting provincial director of the NCIP based in Surigao City, wrote TMC requesting that the amount be deposited to the account of the Asosasyon sa Madazaw na Panagkaisa nan mga Tribong Mamanwa sa Taganito ug Urbiztondo (Amapantrimtu) with the Land Bank of the Philippines branch in Surigao City.
Amapantrimtu is the organization of Mamanwas that forged a Memorandum of Agreement with TMC and the NCIP on July 18, 2006, when TMC was applying for a Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) for the “exploration, development and commercial utilization of nickel ores/deposits located at Barangays Urbiztondo and Hayanggabon,” covering 4,975.03 hectares.
Under the law, no MPSA can be granted without the free and prior informed consent of the tribe.
The Mamanwa tribe holds a Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) over 48,870,026.3 hectares in the towns of Alegria, Bacuag, Claver, Guigakuit and Tubod in Surigao del Norte. The CADT was issued on September 22, 2006. The TMC’s MPSA was approved July 28, 2008.
The July 2006 MOA, signed by Datu Olorico, Datu Rizal Buklas (father of Datu Reynante) – leaders of the area where TMC is operating -- and Datu Emiliano Gedi, the CADT head claimant, stipulated only an annual “financial assistance amounting to P500,000” released in two equal tranches every last week of June and second week of December, until 2031.
Pereda said TMC has released a total of P1.5 million in “financial assistance” in accordance with the July 2006 MOA, for years 2006, 2007 and 2008.
Pereda said that prior to the approval of their MPSA in 2006, their operations were governed by an operating agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources from 1989 to 2014. The Mining Act was passed in 1995 and the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) in 1997.
Datu Olorico and Datu Reynante Buklas confirmed having received a total of P1.5 million from the firm which they divided among themselves. But the leaders said they did not know they were entitled to a 1% royalty/share from the gross output.
The Datus said the NCIP did not tell them they were entitled to royalty and that it took a Butuan-based contractor, Engr. Sergio Pascual, a former contractor of TMC, to tell them last year that they were entitled to so much more under the law.
Pascual told MindaNews at the barricade site last Saturday that he represents the tribe and has a special power of attorney from and a Memorandum of Agreement with the Datus.
He lambasted the NCIP and TMC for allegedly exploiting the Mamanwas. He said the NCIP, “the very government agency that should protect the Mamanwas” is not protecting them.
Pascual has set up the Indigenous Peoples Management and Development Corporation (IPMDC), to help the Mamanwas. He said they have “lawyers, accountants, doctors, nurses, etc..”
Asked if the firm has Mamanwa representatives, IPMDC operations manager Romeo Valentino Catalan replied in the negative. “We are representing them (the Mamanwas,” he told MindaNews.
Asked how much they would be getting, Catalan said the tribe will give them 30% share.
Pascual said he summoned the officials of TMC and two other mining firms operating in the area-- Oriental Synergy Mining Corporation and Platinum Group Metals Corporation – on October 28 and that TMC did not show up.
Two weeks later, on November 13, the NCIP passed Resolution 325 en banc, declaring that the special power of attorney that designated Pascual as Attrney-in Fact of the Mamanwas and the MOA resulting therefrom “violates the provisions of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act and NCIP Administrative Order NO. 1, Series of 2006” and also declared that it is “contrary to the customs, tradition and practices of the Mamanwa tribe.”
On the same day, the NCIP passed Resolution 324 authorizing the acting regional director of the NCIP to “renegotiate, execute, and/or enter into favorable terms and conditions for and in behalf of the Mamnwa tribe of Surigao del Norte and the NCIP
The resolution acknowledged that “some of the terms and conditions” of the July 2006 MOA are “not in consonance with the provisions of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 as well as with Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997 (RA 8371) which provides for the protection and promotion of the interest of the ICCs/IP,” particularly citing the P500,000 annual financial assistance when it should be 1% of the gross production/output as IP royalty/share.
Following Resolution 324, the TMC and NCIP signed a Joint Undertaking on December 8, 2008, acknowledging that the P500,000 annual financial assistance “does not accurately represent the amount due to the Mamanwa Tribe (Ampantrimtu) as their IP loyalty/share” and that “it is the desire” of TMC to “faithfully comply with its legal obligations to the Mamanawa Tribe based on the provisions of both the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 and the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997.”
The Joint Undertaking was signed by TMC president Gerardo Brimo and NCIP’s Dumagan, in the presence of CADT Head Claimant Datu Emiliano Gedi and MGB’s Ensomo.
Dumagan told MindaNews in a telephone interview that the NCIP in an en banc resolution number 009 dated January 30, 2009 had resolved that the royalty due the Mamanwas be deposited to the Surigao City account of the Mamanwa association.
Dumagan said he received a copy of the en banc resolution this morning.
Datu Olorico and Datu Reynante on Tuesday afternoon said they would only leave the barricade when the firm pays them the royalty. (Carolyn O. Arguillas/MindaNews) Read rest of story...
TAGANITO, Claver, Surigao del Norte (MindaNews/19 February) – There are no missing Mamanwa protesters, tribal leaders here said.
Datu Joel Buklas, Datu Reynante Buklas and Datu Alfredo Olorico told MindaNews that they have no missing members, contrary to earlier reports.
On January 31, reports quoting Joel said five Mamanwa carpenters who built makeshift shelters at the barricade when they started on January 29, were missing. The alleged missing persons, however, were not named.
On February 14, Datu Joel Buklas and Datu Reynante Buklas told MindaNews at the barricade here that no Mamanwa is missing. Datu Reynante and Datu Olorico on February 17 reiterated no Mamanwa is missing.
Datu Reynante said there are 46 Mamanwa families in Taganito while Datu Olorico said he has 56 Mamanwa families in Urbiztondo.
At least 30 makeshift structures have been built on the road leading to the production site of the Taganito Mining Corporation, an area that is part of the ancestral domain title of the Mamanwas.
The Mamanwa Datus said they would lift the barricade only when the mining firm pays the royalty due them.
TMC resident mine manager Armando Pereda told MindaNews on February 17 that they were just awaiting guidance from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) on whose bank account they would deposit the P51.5 million (see related story)
The amount represents 1% of the gross production output of TMC from July 2006 to December 2007. The amount for 2008 will be available during the first quarter this year. (Carolyn O. Arguillas/MindaNews) Read rest of story...
The Department of Trade and Industry [DTI] Caraga Region is joining the other agencies in the preparations for the week-long celebration of Caraga's 14th founding anniversary this February 18-23, 2009.
This year's theme is "Building on New Breakthroughs at 14."
DTI's participation will be via its One Town One Product [OTOP] Exhibit and Selling Fair and Industry Cluster Exhibit at the Balanghai Hotel, Butuan City. This fair will showcase the best products from the different towns of the region such as fashion accessories, gifts, home furnishings and food products. The Industry Cluster Exhibit, on the other hand, will feature the industry potentials of the thirteen [13] priority clusters in the region – namely abaca, seaweeds, banana, oil palm, coconut, high value crops, tourism, Information Communication & Technology or ICT, processed food, mining, arts & crafts, wood and moringa.
Separate industry cluster activities will likewise be conducted. The 1st Caraga ICT Congress will be held in coordination with the different line agencies and private sector partners. A Caraga Coco Cluster Stakeholders meeting is also slated.
Aside from these regional activities, the different DTI Provincial Offices will also be conducting other activities in their respective provinces. These include Business Opportunities Fair, Business Trainings and Seminars, Business fora, Advocacy Forum on the Local and Regional Economic Development Program, Provincial OTOP Summit, Provincial OTOP Fair and Product Launchings.
Last year, the agency took part in the festivities through the trade fairs, conduct of several business seminars, trade trainings and launching of the Rural Micro Enterprise Development Program [RuMEPP].
The Caraga Region is created through Republic Act No. 7901 on February 23, 1995 and now covers five provinces – Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Dinagat Province; and three cities – Butuan, Surigao and Bislig. (DTI-13/PIA-Caraga) Read rest of story...
THE Department of Energy (DOE) will bid out contracts to explore and develop 20 sites in the country.
Energy Undersecretary Ramon Oca said the contracts will be bid out under the Philippine Energy Contract Round (PECR) this year.
“We’re preparing for the contracting round, and we’re looking at kicking off with the coal contracts,” the energy official said.
Oca said once the guidelines are served the DOE would immediately publish it.
It would take 15 days to complete the guidelines, he said, adding that the DOE targets to have the actual launch of the bid for coal contracts next month.
Oca added the DOE would begin bidding out the oil and gas contracts a few weeks after.
He expressed optimism to complete the PECR 2009 with the bidding of geothermal areas before the end of the first half of the year.
“We aim to bid out coal, oil and gas and geothermal by the first half,” Oca said.
In 2006 the DOE offered 14 areas for exploration, development and production of the country’s coal resources in Quezon, Negros Occidental, Cebu, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Sur, Davao Oriental and Zamboanga Sibugay.
The DOE also awarded four coal operating contracts under the PECR 2006 last year.
The DOE allowed IL Rey’c Coal Mining and Exploration Corp. in Danao City, Cebu (COC 149), Guidance Management Corp. for coal areas in Negros Oriental (COC 150 and 151) and COC 152 to PNOC-Exploration Corp. and Agusan Petroleum and Mining Corp. for Siay, Zamboanga Sibugay.
Aside from coal, the DOE also opened nine contract areas in East Palawan, Mindoro-Cuyo, Cagayan, Central Luzon, Visayas and Agusan-Davao for petroleum exploration.
The DOE will also offer several areas for geothermal exploration and development, specifically, Batangas, Biliran and Compostela Valley.
In 2004 the DOE launched the PECR for coal, geothermal and petroleum exploration and development to ensure the country’s energy independence. (Business Mirror) Read rest of story...
The Philippine National Red Cross on Monday urged PNRC local chapters to monitor areas in Surigao del Norte, Negros Oriental, Davao Oriental, Cebu City and Surigao del Sur that have been devastated by continuous rainshowers, flashfloods and landslides.
At least four municipalities consisting of 31 barangays in Negros Oriental have been affected by the calamity, according to PNRC chapter administrator Louella Bael.
The Red Cross chapter has facilitated the release of 50 sacks of National Food Authority rice as well as medicines for cough, colds, diarrhea and skin diseases brought about by decongestion and prolonged stay of evacuees in the evacuation centers.
In Cebu province, PNRC Cebu Chapter administrator Norma Tancinco said the Coast Guard is conducting a series of rescue and search operations with the aid of Red Cross chapter volunteers.
Tancinco said that they are in search of five missing persons namely Mario Oliverio, Gerry Kaquilala, William Badiable, Temoteo Morabos, Remegio Ofianga at Arn Darawis. The five are passengers of M/V Chrysler, which capsized after being rammed by another vessel.
In Surigao del Sur, PNRC Chapter administrator Adel de Guzman said the Red Cross had just finished distributing tensacks of rice and five boxes of noodles to the 55 families in the marketplace, eight families in Manggawong, nine families in the coastal area, five families in Bogac, and to 36 families in Cumawas or to 148 families all in all. (abs-cbnnews.com) Read rest of story...
CARGO volumes and passenger traffic in the Central-Eastern Nautical Highways roll-on, roll-off (Roro) continue to grow with the establishment of the western seaboard despite slower economic growth, according to a logistics expert.
Enrico Basilio, director of the Center for Research and Communication’s (CRC) Transport and Logistics Institute, told a logistics conference that the western seaboard did not compete with the central and eastern seaboards but actually is “complementary.”
Basilio said cargo traffic in most Roro routes in the central and eastern seaboards has increased to 104,362 metric tons (MT) in 2007 from 4,021 MT in 2003. This is evident particularly in the Lucena-Masbate route.
The Central Nautical Highway is the central route connecting Pilar, Sorsogon, to Balingoan in Misamis Oriental, through Central Visayas and connects to the East-West routes of Cataingan in Masbate and San Carlos City in Negros Occidental.
The Eastern Nautical Highway, on the other hand, is the eastern sea link that connects Biliran, Leyte, to Surigao City or the northeastern tip of Mindanao and the central trunk route of Cataingan in Masbate.
Basilio said a CRC study shows that shipments through Roro routes mainly include agri-fishery products, manufactured goods, fruits and vegetables and livestock. “We found that a lot of cargo being moved by Roro are agriculture products and this has impact on poverty alleviation and countryside development,” he said.
Basilio said agricultural products that pass through the Eastern Nautical Highway are fruits and vegetables, as well as fishery products all the way from General Santos and Davao.
Mineral products such as nickel, chromite, silica and limestones are shipped out of Surigao.
For some routes in the Central Nautical Highway, as well as east-west lateral connections such as Cebu-Tubigon and San Carlos-Toledo, palay, rice, copra, live animals, fishery products, fruits and vegetables top the list of major agricultural commodities that are transported by Roro, he added.
Basilio said rice and palay, fishery products, fruits and vegetables dominate the commodity flow for the western seaboard.
Also, total passenger traffic particularly in the Roxas-Caticlan route reached almost 700,000 in 2006 from more than 1,000 in 2003. “From 2003 to 2006, tourism receipts in Boracay grew by 50 percent, Iloilo by 30 percent, Bacolod by 15 percent and Dapitan by 200 percent,” he said.
The Western Nautical Highway links Manila and Dipolog connecting to the Central Nautical Highway in Cebu City.
“Surprisingly, in the Southwestern Mindanao network [Jolo, Sulu, Tawi-tawi], a lot of fishery products largely marine, carrageenan and seaweeds and livestock are now ferried by Roro,” he noted.
Basilio is optimistic that the Roro will continue to play a pivotal role in domestic trade, tourism and area development despite slower economic growth this year.
“Roro softened the impact of the shipping liner crisis in June 2008,” he said, recalling the grounding of the Sulpicio ships because of the Princess of the Stars tragedy that reduced the supply of ships that transport goods and people within the country.
“It was Roro that provided the alternative mode of sea transport,” he added. Danielle Venz, (Philexport News And Features, Business Mirror) Read rest of story...
The One Network Bank (ONB) is looking to expand by 19 percent growth in net earnings for 2009, or from P244 million last year to P288 million.
“ONB remains upbeat for this year despite the global crisis considering credit demand will remain strong with our participation in the Department of Education (DepEd) salary loans program, and our continuing One Banana Program growers loans,” Alex V. Buenaventura, ONB president said.
One Banana Program loans go to cavendish banana small farmer growers which grew by 19 percent from only P477 million in 2007 to P569 million last year.
Likewise, the market demand for other agricultural products is expected to remain strong in the agri-based economy of Mindanao.
Buenaventura added that the fluid environment would in turn support the high deposit generation targets of ONB especially in the countryside.
The Mindanao-wide rural bank is forecasting a deposit growth of 30 percent this year, or from P6 billion last year to P7.8 billion this year.
It is expecting loan growth to reach a bullish 36 percent to P8 billion from the P5.9 billion in 2008.
Buenaventura revealed that eight branches would be opened this year. Three branch applications have already been approved by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilpinas (BSP) and another five is in the pipeline subject to regulatory approval.
The three new branches are located in Surigao City, Dipolog City and Sindangan, Zamboango del Norte.
To compliment its branch network, ONB plans to open 42 new automated teller machines (ATMs) to bring its total network to onsite and offsite units.
ONB reported recently total resources amounting to P8.75 billion last year, up by 35 percent from the P6.49 billion end 2007.
Buenaventura said that deposit funds were able to fund 98 percent of loan portfolio (loan to deposit intermediation ratio), making ONB well leveraged while staying self-reliant in terms of funding loans with cheaper own funds.
“Seventy-one percent of the P6 billion deposit represent cash accounts, savings accounts (CASA) deposits which are low cost funds versus only 29 percent in high-cost time deposits,” the bank president said.
ONB is the product of a three-way consolidation between Network Rural Bank (Davao del Sur) Inc., the Rural Bank of Panabo (Davao del Norte) Inc., and the Provident Rural Bank of Cotabato (North Cotabato) Inc.
It is presently the largest rural bank in Mindanao with various alliances with domestic and foreign financial institutions. – Ted Torres, Philstar
Christian and Muslim leaders called on the nation yesterday to make use of love that the yearly celebration of Valentine’s Day generates in the hearts and minds of the people to strengthen national unity and help push the nation forward to prosperity, peace, happiness and understanding.
They said the love that blossoms on Valentine’s should be directed to forge national unity, make bickering politicians argue on matters of principles, and help leaders realize the need to resolve disputes through dialogues instead of confrontation especially during these difficult times.
"Not only Christians and Muslims will benefit but also the entire nation if love which is the centerpiece of every Valentine’s Day celebration will be used to help unite the various sectors of society, promote cooperation and harmony and enhance the political stability of the nation," they said.
Among the leaders who expressed such sentiments were Rep. Annie Rosa L. Susano of the second district of Quezon City, Rep. Francisco T. Matugas of the first district of Surigao del Norte, opposition Rep. Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro City, Sultan Kudarat Governor Suharto Teng Mangudadadatu and his father Rep. Pax S. Mangudadatu of the first district.
They were joined by Rep. Magtanggol T. Gunigundo of the 2nd district of Valenzuela City, Rep. Arnulfo F. Go of the second district of Sultan Kudarat, Mayor Marlo Ferdinand T. Sales of Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, and Office on Muslim Affairs Executive Director Ali B. Sangki.
They said love between lovers and the cooperation and understanding between the governor and the governed are what the country and the world need to survive the deepening global financial crisis.
Susano, who represents the country’s biggest legislative district, said she makes her contituents feel her love and affection by implementing the projects that redound to their benefit.
In Surigao del Norte, Matugas said he sees to it that when he is not attending sessions of the House of Representatives, he is attending to the problems of his contituents as a way of showing his love not only on Valentine’s Day but throughout the year.
Meanwhile, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) goes on full alert for today’s anniversary of the 2005 Valentines’ Day bombing in Makati, the Makati Police Department has likewise readied the city’s bomb sniffing dogs to intensify security preparations.
NCRPO Director Leopoldo Bataoil yesterday lauded Makati chief of police Senior Supt. Gilbert Cruz for spearheading an unprecedented move to test the training, skills and effectiveness of the canine dogs deployed in several corporate and public establishments in Makati’s Central Business District.
During an evaluation drill held at the Tower One Exchange Plaza along Ayala Avenue, nine Labrador, Belgian Malinois and German Shepherds were assessed for accuracy in detecting packages containing bomb materials like detonating cords, black powder, Trinitrotoluene or TNT, ammonium picrate or Picratol, ammonium nitrate-fuel oil or ANFO, and Composition 4 or C4 plastic explosives.
"At least eight more canine dogs will be evaluated tomorrow as we try to boost our bomb detection and ordnance unit. We want to make sure the canine dogs are highly trained as effective police force multipliers since Makati City receives an average of three bomb threats per week," Cruz said.
Once a canine dog fails the evaluation, Cruz said he will "recommend it for re-training" prior to the regular drill, which he vowed to conduct every six months.
For his part, Southern Police District director Senior Supt. Jaime Calungsod said he will replicate Cruz’s initiatives.
"The canine dogs are our first line of defense during target hardening so it is just fitting to evaluate if they are functioning well," Calungsod said. (with a report by Kris Bayos, MB) Read rest of story...
Tungod sa kusog nga ulan dala sa bagyong “Bising”, 97 na ka mga lumulupyo sa Brgy. Capalayan ang girescue sa RESCUE 44 ug gi-evacuate didto sa pinkaduol nga elementary school uban ang pagpanghatag sa mga pagkaon nga daling gipadala ni Gov. Ace Barbers para sa mga biktima pinaagi sa DSWD sa probinsya.
Sa ngalan sa Gobernador Ace Barbers, si Provincial Administrator Adolfo Pantilo, Sr., mibutyag nga gipadali gayud dayun ni Gob. Ace Barbers ang pagparespondi sa mga taga Brgy. Capalayan diin ubay-ubay kanila ang nahiagum sa landslide.
Dako gayud ang pasalamat ni Brgy. Kapitana Herminia Crisologo ug mga katawhan sa Brgy. Capalayan sa gipakita ni Gov. Barbers nga dali nga tabang ngadto kanila ang tanan ug walay gipili ang makadawat sa maong mga hinabang.
Uban sa maong rescue operation mao usab ang hepe sa DSWD sa probinsya, Rosemarie Catelo, Al Lumapas, Team Leader sa Rescue 44, ug Jovito Litang sa PDCC Secretariat. (SdN PGO-Media Bureau)
Tungod sa dakong tinguha sa pangagamhanan sa probinsya ubos na sa liderato ni Gob. Ace Barbers nga hugtanong mapatuman ang “proper solid waste management practices” sa tibuok probinsya, ang atong maabtik nga gobernador nanghatag ug tig Php 100,000.00 sa upat ka munisipyo aron sa pag tukod ug Material Recovery Facility sa ilang lugar.
Ang mga Munisipyo sa Burgos, Socorro, Bacuag ug Malimono nag pakadawat ug tig Php 100,000.00 isip financial assistance sa provincial government pinaagi na sa provincial Environment and Management Office nga gipangulohan ni Mr. Antonietto Charcos. Ang maong salapi gihatag usab isip ilang ganti sa ilang mga paningkamot nga sila modaog sa gipahigayon nga “Cleanest and Greenest Municipality” sa probinsya, dili pa lang dugay.
Ang maong financial assistance maoy ilang gamiton aron sa pagpatukod ug pag implementar sa Material Recovery Facility o MRF, ang ekwipong pagagamiton sa paghimo ug mga organic fertilizer gikan na sa basura, nga kung atong madumduman, si Gob. Ace Barbers unang mihatag sa maong facility sa Provincial Jail diin sa gibutyag, dako ug tabang sa tanan priso.
Sa laing bahin, ang departamento sa PEMO, usab mipahigayon ug Ecological Solid Waste Management Training /Orientation sa 10 ka munisipyo sa probinsya agig pag-awhag ug paghatag dugang kahibalo sa tanang mintambong sa mga saktong pamaagi sa paglabay sa ilang mga basura.
Dako ang kadasig ug kalipay ni Gov. Ace Barbers sa maong mga kalamboan diin iyang nalantaw nga pinaagi sa maong mga kalihukan ug programa ang tanang mga Surigaonon nagkahiusa ug tungod niini kita mamahimo na usab nga modelo sa ubang mga probinsya sa tibuok nasud sa natad sa pag implementer ug pag sustenir sa kalimpyo sa tibuok katilingban. (PGO-Media Bureau) Read rest of story...
Tropical depression "Bising" continues to threaten the Eastern Visayas region as it moves closer to Dinagat Island, state weather forecasters said shortly before Friday noon.
In its 11 a.m. advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the center of "Bising," which is moving west northwest at 7 kilometers per hour, was traced 30 kilometers northeast of Surigao City as of 10 a.m.
The weather disturbance is packing maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour near the center, it added.
Still placed under public storm warning signal No. 1 are Eastern Samar, Western Samar, Biliran Island, Leyte provinces, Northern Cebu, and Bohol in Visayas; and Dinagat Province, Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte in Mindanao.
The state weather forecasters advised residents living in low lying and near mountainous slopes in areas under Signal No. 1 to be on alert against possible flashfloods and landslides.
"Bising" is expected to be 70 kilometers east northeast of Cebu City on Saturday morning; 40 kilometers east of Roxas City on Sunday morning; and 80 kilometers east of San Jose in in Occidental Mindoro on Monday morning. - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV Read rest of story...
The low pressure area spotted along the Visayas on Thursday evening intensified into a tropical depression, prompting weather forecasters to put eight provinces in Visayas and Mindanao under signal number 1.
The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that as of 6 p.m. Thursday, tropical depression "Bising" was sighted at 140 kms east of Surigao City with maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center.
Areas under signal number one were Eastern Samar, Western Samar, Biliran, Leyte Provinces, Cebu, and Bohol in the Visayas; and Dinagat Province, Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, and Camiguin in Mindanao.
By Friday afternoon "Bising" expected to be 40 kms southwest of Maasin, Southern Leyte. By Saturday afternoon it is predicted to be at 100 kms Southwest of Iloilo City.
By Sunday afternoon, it is expected to move at 130 kms northeast of Puerto Princesa City.
Pagasa also warned residents living in low lying and mountainous areas under signal number one to take necessary precautions against possible flash floods and landslides. - GMANews.TV Read rest of story...
Five IP human rights defenders still missing since first day of anti mining barricade last January 29, 2009 The Philippine government must immediately look into the case of five Mamanwa tribesmen who remain missing since they disappeared on the first day of the barricade their community put up to block mining roads in their ancestral domain last January 29 in Barrangay Taganito, Claver, Surigao del Norte, Philippines.
The Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center – Kasama sa Kalikasan/FOE- Philippines (LRC-KsK) calls upon the Arroyo government to exert all its efforts in locating the five IP protesters and put to justice whoever caused their disappearance. In disappearance cases every minute counts, all concerned government agencies and personnel must be mobilized in order to protect the lives of these five Mamanwa community members.
LRC-KsK notes with concern the growing list of indigenous peoples victimized by human rights violations that have been perpetrated with impunity under the Arroyo government – especially that the targets have been IP community human rights defenders.
The 400 Mamanwa community members barricaded the mining roads connecting the mining site to the local seaport to protest decades of continued mining operations by four mining companies in their ancestral domain without the consent of the community, nor just compensation to the community. The five missing Mamanwa protesters went to look for food for the barricade after they helped put up makeshift shelters, they were not seen again even after a search conducted by community members.
The setting up of the protest barricade was known to the local police since they were informed of by the community last December that they were driven to this after repeated attempts of sending out notices of termination of mining operations as well as demands for just compensation proved futile.
LRC-KsK demands that the Arroyo government do away with its obsession for mining generated revenues in the face of overwhelming rejection of IP communities who have long borne the brunt of the destruction, displacement, discrimination and disempowerment that mining operations bring with it.
We support the Mamanwa community as they continue with their barricade in their stand for their rights against destructive development projects and undemocratic policies.
SURFACE THE MAMANWA FIVE!!
Recommended Action:
- Call on Philippines Authorities to locate and surface the five missing Mamanwas - Call on Philippines Authorities to respect and protect the barricade of the Mamanwa - Call on Philippines Authorities to scrap the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 - Call on Philippine Authorities to make sure that mining companies in Mamanwa ancestral domain respect indigenous peoples rights, give just compensation to the Mamanwa community and stop all mining operation
Appeals To:
The Chief of Police Chief Director General Jesus Verzosa Philippine National Police Room 301 DND Building, Camp Emilio Aguinaldo, E. de los Santos Avenue, Quezon City, Philippines Email: pio@pnp.gov.This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ph
The Chief of Staff (Armed Forces) Gen. Alexander B. Yano Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo Quezon City, Philippines Email: via website: http://www.afp. mil.ph/ghq/ csafp/index. htm (follow link on left-hand side to guestbook)
The Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Jose "Lito" L. Atienza, Jr Central Office: Visayas Avenue, Diliman, 1100 Quezon City, Philippines Email: web@denr.gov.This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ph Tel. Nos. (02) 928-06-91 TO 93 loc: 2003, 2008, 2135, 2201 2101, 2134, 2182, 2147 Email add: osec@denr.gov.This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ph The Mines and Gosciences Bureau Regional Director- Region 13
ALILO C. ENSOMO, JR. Km 2., Surigao City Telefax No. (086)826-1058 e-mail: mgbrxiii@philcom. ph
Copies to:
1. The Chairperson of the Philippines Commission on Human Rights Hon. Leila De Lima SAAC Bldg., UP Complex Commonwealth Avenue Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines Email: drpvq@chr.gov.This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ph, atty_delima@ yahoo.com. ph
2. The Chairperson of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples Atty. Eugenio A. Insigne 2nd Floor N. dela Merced Building, Cor. West and Quezon Avenues, Quezon City, Metro Manila
TELEFAX (63 2) 373-97-65
EMAIL resource@ncip. gov.ph
URL www.ncip.gov. ph
-a 3. - and to diplomatic representatives of the Philippines accredited to your country. contact person: Romel Cardenas de Vera, LRC-KsK/FOE Philippines, fhfmel.devera@ lrcksk.org (MindaNews) Read rest of story...
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has designated Social Security System (SSS) President Romulo V. Neri as the Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) steward for Northern Mindanao.
As such, he is tasked to oversee and ensure the implementation of CLEEP programs and projects in the particular provinces of the region as specified by the President in her memorandum to all cabinet members dated January 6, this year.
Generally, CLEEP aims to protect the most vulnerable sectors, such as, the poor, hungry, returning expatriates, workers in the export industry, out of school youth, etc. from threatened consequences of reduced or lost income resulting from the globe economic crisis.
Specifically, however, CLEEP aims to fund and supervise livelihood projects that is immediate and hire for emergency employment that requires little or no skill or education and engages short-time that allows workers to obtain more than one job.
The programs, projects and activities under the CLEEP are aligned to super region priorities in Agribusiness Mindanao, North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle, Tourism Center of the Philippines, Luzon Urban Beltway, Cyber Corridor and the needs of the 12 poorest and 12 most food-poor provinces of the country including that of the National Capital Region (NCR).
These provinces include those of Tawi-tawi, Zamboanga del Norte, Maguindanao, Shariff Kabunsuan, Apayao, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Lanao del Sur, Northern Samar, Masbate, Abra and Misamis Occidental.
Likewise, considered the most food-poor provinces are Zamboanga del Norte, Tawi-tawi, Northern Samar, Apayao, Masbate, Agusan del Sur, Maguindanao, Shariff Kabunsuan, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Island, Kalinga & Surigao del Sur.
Meanwhile, all provinces in the Agribusiness Mindanao super region will be implementing projects to generate employment in the farm-to-market roads (FMR) construction and maintenance, organic fertilizer production, goat dispersal and micro-finances for beneficiaries of the Comprehensive Agriculture Reform Program (CARP).
In region 10, the CLEEP projects include the repairs of irrigated rice lands and implementation of "Bantay Gubat" in the provinces of Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte. (PIA 10) Read rest of story...
THE Philippines may buy an additional 300,000 metric tons (MT) of imported milled rice, on top of the 1.5 million metric tons (MMT) it bought from Vietnam, via a government-to-government negotiation.
Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said the purchase of an additional 300,000 MT of rice would depend largely on the summer crops.
“We [will also] estimate the October harvest, so by May or June, we can already decide if we’re going to [import the additional volume]. We can bring in imported rice in small quantities during August, September and October,” Yap told reporters at the sidelines of a media forum held in Quezon City on Thursday.
If 300,000 MT of rice would be brought in, the Philippines would have imported a total of 1.8 MMT this year. Yap said this volume is well within the range the Department of Agriculture (DA) has submitted to the finance department.
“[The government] budgeted for 1.8 MMT. We provided for that,” said Yap.
The DA chief, however, said the government will still determine what mode they will use in procuring the 300,000 MT. He said for now, the government finds it more advantageous to source rice via a government-to-government transaction.
“Even the World Bank is cautioning us against an open tender. Open tender in the world market will move prices. So why will we tender and put ourselves at a disadvantage?” he said.
Earlier, the Philippine government would not confirm if it bought 1.5 MMT of rice from Vietnam. Yap admitted on Thursday that Vietnam had agreed to supply the Philippines 1.5 MMT of rice, but he remains mum on the contracted price.
“This year the 1.5 million MT [was procured at] below $500 per metric ton. Very close to $500 but below $500,” he said.
Yap noted that last year, the government had to fork out an average of $750 per MT of rice as it went on a buying binge in its bid to prop up its stocks. The Philippines bought a total of 2.3 MMT of rice from neighboring Asian countries.
Meanwhile, the DA said part of the initial 500,000 MT of rice it procured from Vietnam had started arriving in the Philippines.
Yap said around 6,000 MT of imported rice have already arrived at the Port of Cebu on Saturday, while some 6,600 MT arrived Tuesday at the Port of Zamboanga.
Around 3,600 MT is supposed to have been delivered at the Port of Surigao Wednesday while 5,950 MT is due to arrive the Port of Tabako in Albay and another 6,000 MT at the General Santos Port.
National Food Authority (NFA) officials said they are also expecting the delivery of 10,000 MT at the Cagayan de Oro Port, but they have yet to confirm the arrival date. (Business Mirror) Read rest of story...
Dako ang kalipay sa pipila ka pamilyang Surigaonon kang Gob. Ace Barbers sa way puas nga pagtabang ug panirbisyo niini sa katawhan pinaagi na sa pag implementer sa 4P’s o Pangtawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program sa probinsya nga pinangunahan na sa Provincial Social Services Office-Social Welfare Division. Ang maong proyekto gilusad sugod kadtong Enero 12 ug kini nagpadayon hangtod sa kasamtangan agig pagtabang sa pipila ka pamilyang Surigaonon nga walay halos panginabu-hian nga adunay mga anak nga nag edad sa 0 hangtud sa 14 anyos.
Ang Pangtawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program o 4P’s, usa ka inisyatibo nga gihimo sa gobyerno aron mapa ubsan ang nagpadayon karon nga probleme sa katilingban nga mao ang “ ka pobrehon” o “poverty” nga maoy usa sa mga hinungdan ngano adunay mga kabataan nga gihikawan sa katungod sa pag eskuyla ug usab pinaagi niining proyekto, ang maong mga pamilya maka sustenar sa ilang pang adlaw-adlaw nga panginahanglanon.
Mapasalamaton ang pipila ka mga pamilya nga nag gikan pa sa nagkalain laing munisipyo sa isla ug usab sa mainland. Ang mga lungsod sa Dapa nga adunay 1, 586 ka pamilya ang natabangan; sa Del Carmen nga usab adunay 1, 258 ka pamilya; Gen Luna na may 1,118 pamilya; Gigaquit nga may 1,240 ka pamilya; lungsod sa Malimono na adunay 1, 25; Pilar nga may 1,586 ka pamilya; San Benito na may 390, San Isidro nga adunay usab 577 ug ang lungsod sa Socorro nga may 1,247 ka pamilya ang kasamtangang naka benepisyo sa maong programa.
Nalipay pag ayo si Gob. Ace Barbers sa dihang iyang nasinati ang kalipay nga gipakita sa mga natabangang pamilya. Nagkanayon ang buotang gobernador nga siya nanghinaot nga ang maong tabang makahatag unta ug kadasig, kalamboan ug kabag-ohan sa ilang mga kinabuhi. (SdN PGO- Media Bureau)
Sa tinu-ig nga pagsaulog sa Kapistahan sa Our Lady of Lourdes, si Gob. Ace Barbers uban sa mga empleyado sa Kapitolyo mipahigayon ug ubay-ubay nga mga kalihukan ug kalingawan niadtong miaging adlaw.
Sa milabayng semana, gikan niadtong Pebrero 02 hangtud 10, gisugdan ang ubang kalihukan niini pinaagi na sa 9 ka adlaw nga novena matag alas 4 sa hapon didto na mismo sa Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel sa likod nga bahin sa Kapitolyo.
Ug sa pagsaulog sa mismong adlaw sa Pista nan Kapiltolyo, niadtong maiging sayong kabuntagon, gipahigayon ang Dawn Procession nga nagsugod sa Caraga Regional Hospital ug kini natapos didto sa Our Lady of Lourdes ug kini dayon gisundan sa pagsaulog sa misa sa alas 6 sa buntag. Pagkahuman sa maong Holy Mass, sa alas 7, adunay light breakfast para sa tanang mintambong gikan sa Dawn Procession. Ug sa alas 9 pagasugdan ang HATAW sa Capitol Ground ug dayon kini sundan sa mga parlor games sa alas 10 hangtud alas 12 sa ting paniudto. Ug pagkahapon, gikan sa ala 1 hangtud ala 5, gihimo ang pipila ka mga dula sama sa Table Tennis, Dart ug Chess nga gisalmutan sa matag cluster. (PGO-Media Bureau) Read rest of story...
Check with the League of Cities of the Philippines how many members it has, and it will say 120. Check with the National Statistical Coordination Board, however, and it will say there are 136.
As far as the LCP is concerned, the number has always been 120 since 2007, despite the conversion of 16 towns into new cities that year.
(These are Tabuk in Kalinga; Tayabas in Quezon; Batac in Ilocos Norte; Naga, Bogo, and Carcar in Cebu; Baybay in Leyte; Guihulngan in Negros Oriental; Catbalogan in Samar; Borongan in Eastern Samar; Tandag in Surigao del Sur; Bayugan in Agusan del Sur; El Salvador in Misamis Oriental; Mati in Davao Oriental; Lamitan in Basilan; and Cabadbaran in Agusan del Norte.)
Normally, any newly created or converted city is automatically taken in as member of the LCP. Discounting these 16, however, is the LCP’s way of protesting Congress’s apparent abuse of power by passing cityhood laws even if the 16 municipalities in question didn’t meet the minimum income requirement set by the Local Government Code.
A mayor of one of the 16 cities told us that the LCP never recognized them even after their cityhood laws were ratified by their residents in their respective plebiscites.
Last November, the Supreme Court sided with the LCP when it voided and declared unconstitutional those cityhood laws.
So what’s the League of 16 (as they want to call themselves) to do?
They are forming a league of their own and are preparing to register it with the Securities and Exchange Commission as the Alliance of Rural Cities. They say other “cities” whose cityhood laws suffer the same fate are welcome to join. (Newsbreak) Read rest of story...
THE Philippines will continue to receive development assistance from the Japanese government to cover more agrarian-reform communities in Southern Mindanao.
A representative from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) has committed to expand the agency’s assistance to cover more agrarian- reform communities in Southern Mindanao.
Jica resident field office chief Akira Goto said the Japanese government will continue its partnership with the Department of Agrarian Reform even with the final stage of the implementation of the Mindanao Sustainable Settlement Area Development Project (MinSSAD) in agrarian-reform communities in the Dinagat Islands.
MinSSAD, funded by JICA, is an official development assistance program covering 16 municipalities in Mindanao.
Goto made the statement during the mass turnover of the P200-M completed MinSSAD infrastructure projects to the local government of San Jose, Dinagat, and Tubajon, all aimed at increasing the productivity and income of agrarian-reform beneficiaries in rural communities.
The projects include school buildings, potable- water systems, farm-to-market roads, barangay health stations, bridges, irrigations, multipurpose buildings and postharvest facilities.
MinSSAD national project director Percival Dalugdug said the projects, which are now in operation, are expected not only to boost the rural economy but also to create job opportunities in farming communities.
“We would like to encourage our farmers to acquire more skills so that they could perform other jobs, which could help them get by especially now that everyone is affected by the global crisis,” he said.
He also said the DAR will also provide farm equipment to farmer-beneficiaries in the Island aside from these infrastructure projects.
San Jose Mayor Benglen Ecleo said the municipality is lucky to be a recipient of these facilities. “My constituents in remote areas benefit from these projects. We are looking forward to better livelihood opportunities,” he added. (Business Mirror) Read rest of story...
On February 9, 2009 at 10:30 in the evening at Barangay Rizal, Surigao City, PNP elements of Surigao City Police Station conducted operation against illegal gambling which resulted to the apprehension of the suspect identified as Jerwin Orag Dumanhog, 19 years old, single and resident of Purok-2, Barangay Togbongon, Surigao City while actually caught engaged in illegal gambling.
Confiscated from the suspect’s possession were seven “suertres” tally sheet; one piece ballpen; one Nokia 1110i cellphone; one unit passenger motorcycle with plate number SC 1630 and bet money amounting to Php 150.00.
Arrested person is now detained at said station for proper disposition.
Also, on February 10, 2009 at 7:35 in the evening at the sidewalk of Villanueva Street, Barangay Humabon, Butuan City, PNP elements of Vice Control Section of Butuan City Police Station 1 led by PSINSP Plaza, also conducted operation against illegal gambling which resulted to the apprehension of the suspect identified as Raul Antik Acala, 37 years old, single and resident of said place.
Confiscated from the suspect’s possession were four pieces filled-up “swertres” tally sheets, two pieces “swertres” tip; one piece ballpen and bet money amounting to Php 407.00.
Subject person was brought to Butuan City Police Station-1 for proper disposition. (PNP-13) Read rest of story...
Surigao del Norte Gov. Robert Ace Barbers has expressed dismay over the alleged World Bank report that refers to his father, the late Robert Barbers, as the senator who “exerted his influence to further the collusive bid schemes” of contractors involved in anomalous practices in undertaking the international financial institution’s projects.
“It is very sad that my father who has been gone for more than three years now is being dragged into this mess. Remember that he was out of politics after the 2004 elections. If the report indeed exists, how can we, remaining members of the family, clear the name of our father if we cannot test the veracity of the allegations,” Barbers said.
Barbers stressed that if the World Bank will not make the report public, at least “they should have the decency to furnish us copies and allow us to pose queries on the allegations leveled against our father who cannot anymore defend himself.”
Bill of rights
“This is most unfair,” Barbers said in a press statement.
Barbers said the World Bank report indicted his deceased father and the others before the “bar of public opinion by somebody who doesn’t want to be known.”
“Even in our Bill of Rights which we copied from the Americans, the same people who dominate the World Bank, the accused is given the right to cross-examine the witnesses against him,” he stressed.
But this right, Barbers said, was not even accorded them as the World Bank failed to give them a chance to defend themselves.
To avoid further controversies, Barbers suggested that the World Bank and other similar entities, which have projects in the Philippines, should pick their own contractors to undertake the projects they bankroll.
“I am sure that the Filipino people will welcome this suggestion as it will end corruption, in their projects at least,” Barbers said. (inquirer.net) Read rest of story...
Agig pagsanong sa awhag ni Gob. Ace Barbers sa hugtanong pagpatuman sa mga programa sa maayong panglawas, Provincial Health Office nagpadayon sa paghatag ug way puas nga de kalidad nga panirbisyo sa mga katawhan aron ang tanan maprotektahan ug layo sa mga sakit.
Sa milabayng semana, sila mipahigayon sa Mass Urine Screening for Elementary School children ug ang Fasting/Random Blood Sugar determination para sa tanang ginikanan ug mga magtutudlo didto sa duha ka tulungha-an sa Tubod, nga mao ang M.A. Dapar Elem. School, Cawilan ug Calang Custodio Elementary School Del Rosario.
Ang mga volunteer ug mga medical practitioner nga nanguna sa maong kalihukan, malipayon nga mibutyag nga sila adunay halos 420 ka pasyente nga gi atender ug gitambalan sa maong mga tulungha-an. Sa mga estudyanteng nahibaw-an nga adunay abnormal nga pagpangihi ug mga ginikanan ug magtutudlo nga tag-as ug blood pressure, sila dayon gidapatan sa maong mga tambal nga angay kanila.
Ang maong Mass Urine Screening ug Random Blood Sugar Determination usa ka joint activity sa Provincial Health Office ug Surigao del Norte Coalition for REDCOP. Sa milabay usab nga Bloodletting Activity niadtong Pebrero 6, 2009, adunay 25 ka mga donors ang nakuha gikan sa mga empleyado sa Kapitolyo.
Dako ang kalipay ug pasalamat ni Gob. Ace Barbers sa mga nanguna sa maong kalihukan nga naghatag ug tinuoray nga pagpanirbisyo. Siya midugang nga tungod sa ilang kakugi ug pagtinambayayungay, ang pangagamhanan sa probinsya nagmalampuson ug nagpabilin nga tinubdan sa paglaum sa mga katawhan ug kini namahimong inspirasyon sa tanan. (SdN PGO-Media Bureau)
Dako ang kadasig ug suporta ang gipakita ni Gob. Ace Barbers sa mga programa nga ipatuman sa Provincial Veterinary Office para sa tuig 2009 agig pagtabang ug paghatag dugang panginabuhi-an sa pipila ka mga mag-uuma sa probinsya. Malampusong gipahigayon ang ilang Municipal Agricultutal Officers/Municipal Agriculturists and Agricultural Technicians Livestock Meeting sa milabayng Pebrero 04, 2009, didto sa Jakelou Function Room sa Narciso St. ning atong siyudad. Sa maong tigum, gituki sa pipila ka mga municipal agriculturists ang mga programa ug proyekto nga kinahanglan nga i prayoridad, diin ang mga programa sa Animal Health Protection Program, Animal Production Program, Institutional Development nga naglangkob na sa Strenghthening Livestock and Poultry Raisers, ug ang regular nga pagpahigayon sa ilang meeting matag quarter, ug usab ang mga special programs sama sa pag mintinar sa Provincial Breeding Center sa Magpayang ug Mainit ug Jubgan Stock Farm sa Jubgan ug San Francisco, Surigao del Norte maoy hatagan ug gibug-aton.
Gidugang pa nga agig pagpangandam sa pagsaulog sa Livestock Farmer’s Week karong umaabot nga katapusan sa Abril, sila mopahigayon sa Search for Outstanding Brgy./Municipality LAPRA, Swine Raiser, Small Ruminant Raiser, Large Animal Raiser, Kabir/Duck Raiser ug Meat Processing sa tibuok probinsya.
Ang Provincial Veterinary Office, hugtanong mipatuman sa mga nagkadaiyang programa ubos sa liderato ni Gob. Ace Barbers diin ubay-ubay na sa mga mag-uuma ang nakaangkon sa dakong tabang niining sa ilang panginabuhian, Ubos sa maong programa, sila nagdugang pag awhag sa uban pang gusto mopatigayon sa pagbuhi ug mga kahayupan.
Si Gob. Ace Barbers nagkanayon nga andam kanunay siya sa paghatag ug hugot nga suporta tungod tumong ug tinguha sa iyang administrasyon ang paghatag ug tiunay nga tabang sa mga mag-uuma aron madungagan pa ang pagpalambo sa natad sa agikultura sa probinsya. (SdN PGO-Media Bureau)
On February 2, 2009 at 5:00 in the afternoon at Barangay Taruc, Socorro, Surigao del Norte, suspect identified as Rommel Guma, 37 years old, married, ans a resident of the above place was arrested by elements of Socorro Municipal Police Station led by PSI Jose F Inhaynes by virtue of the warrant of arrest (WOA) issued by Hon Judge Alfredo P Jalad, Acting Presiding Judge Regional Trial Court (RTC) branch 41, Cantilan, Surigao del Sur for violation of Section 08 of PD 705 (Forestry Reform Code of the Phils)) under CC number 640 with recommended bail bond of Php 30,000.00.
Suspect was brought to Socorro Municipal Police Station for proper disposition and subsequently turned-over to the issuing court.
Also, on Feb 4, 2009 around 1:00 in the afternoon at Paradise, Barangay Libertad, Butuan City, elements of Butuan City Police Station 3 headed by SPO1 Dennis Estrosos arrested a certain Lou Salvador Yumo, 21 years old, married and a resident of the above place.
Suspect was arrested by virtue of WOA under CC number 12701 for the crime of theft issued by Hon Judge Francisco Maclang of RTC branch 3, Butuan City dated Feb 6, 2008 with recommended bail bond of Php 20,000.00.
Subject person was brought to Butuan City Police Station 3 for proper disposition.
Meanwhile, on February 5, 2009 at 9:30 in the morning at Barangay 7, Dapa, Surigao City, suspect identified as Medetacion Espino, 52 years old, widow and resident of Barangay Union, Dapa, Surgiao del Norte was arrested by joint PNP elements of Pilar and Dapa Municipal Police Station by virtue of WOA issued by Hon Judge Igncaio Macarine of MCTC General Luna, docketed under CC number 4234 for grave oral defamation with recommended bailbond amounting to Php 2,000.00.
Arrested person now under the custody of Pilar Municipal Police Station for proper disposition. (PNP-13/ PIA-Caraga) Read rest of story...
On February 5, 2009 at 6:15 in the evening at San Nicolas, Corner Diez Street, Surigao City, Intel operatives of Surigao City Police Station conducted operation against illegal gambling which resulted to the apprehension of a certain Celso Elumba, 35 years old, married, vendor and resident of Purok-2, Matinabangon, Barangay Taft, Surigao City.
Confiscated from suspect’s possession were “swertres” stub, ballpen and bet money amounting to Php 33.50.
Suspect is now detained at Surigao City Police Station for proper disposition.
Meanwhile, on February 6, 2009 at 6:30 in the morning at Espina Street, Barangay Taft, Surigao City, Intel operatives of Surigao City Polcie Station conducted operation against illegal gambling which resulted to the apprehension of the suspect identified as Jojo Canico Taguba, 19 years old, single, jobless and resident of Purok-2, Barangay Togbongon, Surgiao City, and confiscated from his possession were 36 pieces tally sheets; 111 pieces swertres tips; six stubs; and one unit Honda motorcycle.
Suspect and confiscated items were brought to Surigao City Police Station for proper disposition. Read rest of story...
On February 3, 2009 at 10:00 in the evening at Borromeo Street, Surigao City, Surigao City Police Station (SCPS) received a telephone call from Leo Monde Hotel informing that a foreign national allegedly went wild while inside said hotel.
Suspect identified as Noel Schellehem, 33 years old, married, a Belgian National, presently residing at Juan Luna Street, Barangay 5, Dapa, Surigao del Norte, acted rude to the room service boys and even touched the female receptionist therein.
Elements from SCPS immediately went to the place and arrested the suspect who was under the influence of intoxicating liquor.
Suspect was arrested and was brought to SCPS for proper disposition.
A case has been filed before the City Prosecutor's Office docketed under NPS number XIII-05-INQ-09A-00018. Subject posted bail for his temporary. (PNP-13/ PIA-Caraga) Read rest of story...
Some 400 members of the Mamanwa tribe are now on their second week of staging a “human barricade” along the highway of Taganito in Claver, Surigao del Norte, demanding their right to one percent royalty from the gross output of the operations of four mining firms there.
Mamanwa members earlier sent notice of termination to the mining firms, informing them they will no longer allow mining in their ancestral lands, claiming the firms failed to pay their one percent royalty fees since 1997. The barricade started on January 29.
The four firms, Taganito Mining Corporation (TMC), Oriental Synergy Mining Corporation (OSMC), Case Mining Company (CMC) and Platinum Group Mining Company (PGMC), are operating on the Lumads’ 48,678 hectare ancestral land in barangays Taganito and Urbiztondo. The land is covered by a Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT).
In a statement on February 4, Datu Joel Buklas of the Taganito Mamanwa Association, said, "Today, 4 February 2009, is our seventh day of human barricade along the highway of Taganito, Claver, Surigao del Norte to demand before the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) on our share agreed for allowing the mining companies to ruin our lives and our ancestral domain."
The statement noted that TMC has been operating in their ancestral domain since the 1960's and “got a new contract to operate for another 25 years in the red mountain of Surigao del Sur.”
“The moving truck loads of nickel ore is a regular scene for motorist passing along the Claver highway.
Literally, the red mountain of Claver is moving inch by inch every day. Sumitomo Metal Mining Company together with TMC planned to start this year the construction of a 30,000 ton-a-year smelting plant which would start its operation by 2012,” it said. Sumitomo, it added, is “determined to start the construction this year of the one-billion dollar project” even as the price of nickel in the world market has dropped 15 percent, leading to to lay-off of workers in nearby nickel mining operations like CTP in Carrascal, Surigao del Sur and SRMI in Tubay, Agusan del Norte.
The statement said it was only in 2006 when the Mamanwa signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with TMC where they were to receive a financial assistance of half a million pesos a year.
The Mamanwas said they learned only recently that under the law, they are entitled to a one percent royalty from the gross output of the mining operations.
The revised implementing rules and regulations (RIRR) of the 1995 Mining Acts states that it “fully recognizes the rights” of the Indigenous Peoples/Indigenous Cultural Communities and respect their ancestral land and in accordance with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Administrative Order No. 2, and consistent with the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA), the following shall be observed:
- “ No mineral agreements, FTAA and mining permits shall be granted in ancestral lands/domains except with prior informed consent in: a) Certificate of Ancestral Domain Claim/ADC/CLC areas; and b) areas verified by the DENR Regional Office and/or appropriate offices as actually occupied by Indigenous Cultural Communities under a claim of time immemorial possession;
- Where written consent is granted by the ICCs, a royalty payment shall be negotiated which shall not be less than 1% of the Gross Output of the mining operations in the area.
- This Royalty shall form part of a Trust Fund for socioeconomic well being of the ICCs in accordance with the management plan formulated by the ICCs in the CADC/CALC area.
“In a large-scale mining operation the 1 % Royalty could easily run into several tens of million pesos per year,” the RIRR says.
The Mamanwas have no MOAs with the three other mining firms.
Datu Buklas said in the statement that the Mamanwa community had informed Mines and Geo-sicences Bureau (MGB) and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) of their demands since December 2008 but claimed the two agencies did not help.
The group reported that five Mamanwa carpenters who built the makeshift in the barricade near main road in Barangay Taganito were reported missing on January 29 after they went to their respective farms to harvest camote and cassava for the protesters.
They also showed letters they sent earlier to the Philippine National Police, to local government units and the NCIP, informing them of their planned barricade.
"This is our land even before these mining companies came, we were already here, we were forcibly ousted from these lands against our will and we hope concerned government agencies whom we have been asking for years will wake up", the statement read.
Lawyer Roldan Torralba, who is helping the Mamanwas seek justice, said the MOA the Mamanwa tribesmen had signed with Taganito Mining Corporation was unacceptable as it was one-sided and did not follow Indigenous People's laws.
Torralba said the agreement was not written in a language understandable to the Mamanwas, second, it only gives Mamanwas, including affected host communities P500,000.00 a year instead of a one percent royalty fee from the mining company's gross annual income.
TMC management was reported to have denied the allegations. MindaNews sought TMC’s comment but has yet to receive a reply.
Sister Lydia Lascano, ICM, Directress of the Social Action Center in the Diocese of Tandag wrote Environment Secretary Jose “Lito” Atienza, appealing to him to intervene so the Mamanwas can get their just share from the mining firms operating in the area.
“We support them in their peaceful effort to fight for their rights as a people whose lives were very much affected by the operations of these mining firms, one even as early as 1960's. We grieve that these people had to resort to this difficult means of protest which they consider their last resort in making their voices heard,” Sister Lydia said.
But she condemned “the fact that they were allegedly not properly informed of their rights based on the IPRA Law when they signed the Memorandum of Agreement with TMC entitling them to only P500,000 a year as ‘financial assistance,’ when the one percent provision under the law is the minimum benefit that they should get.” (MindaNews) Read rest of story...
Philex Mining Co., the country’s largest and oldest mining firm, has bought the 50- percent stake of both Anglo American Exploration BV and Anglo American Exploration (Philippines) Inc. in the Boyongan copper-gold project in Surigao del Norte province.
Philex Mining said in a disclosure to the stock exchange that the acquisition, valued at $55 million, would enable the mining company, along with unit Philex Gold Philippines Inc., to gain full control over the property. Philex Mining owns 81 percent of Philex Gold.
Philex completed the acquisition by purchasing the shares of Anglo in its joint venture companies, Silangan Mindanao Mining Co. Inc and Silangan Mindanao Exploration Co. Inc., and the acquisition of assets, receivables, and rights and obligations of Anglo American and Anglo Philippines.
“These pave the way for the continued development of Boyongan and the adjacent areas expeditiously and for the best interest of Philex,” Philex said.
Philex earlier announced its plan to buy out its joint venture partner Anglo American amid a dispute over the results of a pre-feasibility study on the project.
The study conducted by Anglo said “a mining operation based on the currently defined resources, proposed mining and processing methods, assumed long term copper and gold prices and estimated capital and operating costs could not provide an acceptable rate on return on the project investment.”
Philex Gold said Anglo’s study stated that out of the current resource inventory of 210 million tons at Boyongan, only about 87 million tons at 0.68 percent copper and 1.06 grams per ton gold could be reported as a mineral resource by virtue of having “reasonable prospects of eventual economic extraction.”
Philex Gold disputed the assumptions and conclusions made by Anglo in the pre-feasibility study.
Hong Kong conglomerate First Pacific Co. Ltd. in November acquired 20.06-percent stake in Philex Mining for P6.16 billion.
Philex sold 778.62 million shares, representing 20.06 percent of its total issued shares, to Asia Link B.V., which is wholly owned by First Pacific, at P7.92 per share.
First Pacific acquired the shares after state pension fund Social Securities System and other shareholders did not exercise their preemptive rights. SSS, which owns over 18 percent interest of Philex, earlier opposed the buy-in deal between Philex and First Pacific, saying existing shareholders should have the pre-emptive right to buy the shares. (Jenniffer B. Austria, M. Standard) Read rest of story...
THE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) warned over the weekend that red tide is active in Masbate, Sorsogon and Zamboanga del Sur.
Thus, the public should refrain from buying and eating all types of shellfish from these provinces, particularly those harvested from the Juag Lagoon in Matnog and Sorsogon Bay in Sorsogon, the coastal waters of Milagros in Masbate, and Dumanguilas Bay in Zamboaga del Sur.
BFAR, an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA), noted that marine organisms have accumulated high levels of toxin from the microscopic dinoflagellate known to scientists as Pyrodinium bahamense var. compressum that causes the red-tide phenomenon.
BFAR director Malcolm Sarmiento Jr. reiterated that harvesting, selling, buying and eating contaminated organisms from the said areas are banned until toxin levels have dropped to the acceptable range.
“Sadly, there is no way for the public to detect red tide-contaminated shellfish, so that the local government involved must seriously impose the ban on shellfish gathering in areas where red-tide blooms are detected by the BFAR,” Sarmiento said.
BFAR noted that the recent spate of illnesses and deaths from red tide poisoning in Albay and nearby provinces could easily be prevented if the ban was strictly enforced and consumers heeded the warnings in bulletins regularly released by the bureau.
Under RA 8550 or the Fisheries Code of 1998, local government units must enforce all fishery laws and local ordinances enacted by the city or municipal councils in their respective municipal waters.
Sarmiento said the toxic blooms in certain coastal waters of the country have been recurring for the past 30 years and Sorsogon Bay and Juag Lagoon are among the primary areas under tight watch. Water and shellfish in these areas are sampled weekly and BFAR gives bulletins and advisories twice a month.
He said, however, that fish, squids, shrimps and crabs are safe for human consumption provided that these are fresh and the gills, intestines and other internal organs are removed, and the fish is thoroughly washed before cooking.
According to BFAR, areas free of the toxic red tide are the coastal waters of Cavite, Las Piñas, Parañaque, Navotas, Bulacan and Bataan in Manila Bay, and coastal waters of Alaminos, Anda, Bolinao and Wawa in Bani, Pangasinan and Masinloc Bay in Zambales.
Also red-tide free are the coastal waters of Mandaon in Masbate, Honda Bay in Puerto Princesa City, Inner Malampaya Sound in Taytay and El Nido in Palawan, Tinagong Dagat in President Roxas and Saspian Bay in Capiz, Irong-Irong, Maqueda and Villareal Bays in Samar.
The waters of Ormoc, San Pedro, Cancabato and Caraigara Bays in Leyte, Biliran Waters in Biliran Province, Hinatuan, Lianga and Bislig Bays in Surigao del Sur, Taguines Lagoon in Camiguin Island, Balite Bay in Davao Oriental, and the coast of Kabasalan in Sibuguey Bay, Zamboanga Sibugay have also been declared safe from red tide by BFAR. (Business Mirror) Read rest of story...
Malacañang will not press First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo to testify before the Senate inquiry scheduled on February 12 on the bid rigging and bribery allegations on a World Bank (WB)-funded road project, President Arroyo’s deputy spokesman Anthony Golez yesterday said.
The First Gentleman would have his own legal advisers, Golez said, adding that the Palace is not in the position to advise the First Gentleman. “We consider Mr. Arroyo private person and can protect himself against this accusation,” he said.
The Palace statement was in contrast to the demand of Press Secretary Cerge Remonde the other day that the First Gentleman should be entitled to a due process amid “a well-orchestrated effort to besmirch his reputation.”
Remonde even volunteered that the purported documents (that implicated Mr. Arroyo in the bid-rigging syndicate) may be nothing but the baseless allegations submitted to the WB and not the WB report itself.
Golez also questioned if the WB report indeed exists. “Before we ask whether it was true that the WB has refused the Office of Senator Santiago to furnish a copy of the report, we have first to ask the most important question of whether there is really a WB report and which one is the real copy because there might be none at all,” Golez said.
Golez added the accusations thrown against Mr. Arroyo could be likened to mudslinging and that such accusations should hold ground in the proper court.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson divulged documents Wednesday containing allegations that Mr. Arroyo was behind the syndicate in the rigging of bids that led to the WB blacklisting of three local construction firms, contractor Eduardo de Luna, who was Mr. Arroyo’s alleged pointman in the syndicate, and three giant Chinese firms.
Also named in the documents were the late former Sen. Robert Barbers and former Congressmen Prospero Pichay and Jerome Paras.
Surigao del Norte Gov. Robert Ace Barbers, meanwhile, expressed dismay over the alleged World Bank report that refers to his father as the senator who “exerted his influence to further the collusive bid schemes” of contractors involved in anomalous practices in undertaking the international financial institution’s projects.
“It is very sad that my father who has been gone for more than three years now is being dragged into this mess. Remember that he was out of politics after the 2004 elections. If the report indeed exists, how can we, remaining members of the family clear the name of our father if we cannot test the veracity of the allegations,” Barbers said.
Barbers stressed that if the World Bank will not make the report public, at least “they should have the decency to furnish us copies and allow us to pose queries on the allegations levelled against our father who cannot anymore defend himself.”
“This is most unfair,” Barbers said.
Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. also said he will file a bill seeking to permanently ban contractors blacklisted by international agencies from local projects.
Pimentel presented the proposal in the wake of revelations in congressional hearings that contractors that have been debarred by the World Bank from its road projects due to collusive and fraudulent practices are still being allowed by the government not only to continue public works projects already awarded to them but also to bid for new projects.
“The corrupt incidents should not be allowed to recur in any manner or form so that we do not perpetuate corruption in the country,” he said,
Senate Bill No. 3036 prohibits corporations, construction firms, partnerships, associations, legal entities or individuals officially banned by international funding agencies like the World Bank for engaging in bribery, corruption or rigging of public bidding or any act that taints those transactions from participating in any public bidding for constructions contracts or agreements of any kind with the government.
The bill also provides that existing contracts of these erring contractors with the government, that are officially declared by international funding agencies to be impaired by anomalies, irregularities or corruption of any kind, shall be rescinded by the government.
Lacson also earlier identified Mr. Arroyo as a recipient of an alleged P70-million bribe to favor a local contractor in a government project under WB funding.
The Senate hearing on the WB findings of collusion in the bidding for the projects will resume Thursday after Senator Miriam Santiago cancelled her plans to take an indefinite leave due to health reasons.
Santiago said she would summon Mr. Arroyo to appear before the Senate hearing.
Santiago earlier expressed disappointment over the failure of WB officials, who she branded as arrogant, to attend the inquiries. She later asked the WB to furnish a copy of the report on the investigations it made on the bid rigging allegations.
Last Friday, Cabinet Secretary Sylvestre Bello III said Malacañang will seek a copy of the World Bank (WB) report submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman way back in late 2007.
Bello said obtaining an authentic copy of the report is necessary to discover the evidence that will shed light on the bid rigging and bribery allegations on government officials and the First Gentleman.
“We cannot act on these allegations officially unless the evidences are authenticated, authorized and subscribed by the witnesses,” Bello said.
Bello said an investigation cannot be done based on news reports, not even reports coming from the Department of Justice (DoJ), Ombudsman, and from the Senate and the Congress.
“You can only start an investigation based on legal basis with documents authenticated and authorized and subscribed by any possible witness,” he said.
The Palace even indicated that it was unsure on the availability of WB report submitted to the Ombudsman even if the WB itself said that it provided copies of the report in November 2007.
“If it is true that the WB Report was submmitted to the Ombudsman, then the Ombudsman is the best source of finding the allegations,” Bello said.
He pointed out that the Palace will request Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierez “to expose the WB report, if there is any report and also it is about time to look into the veracity of this WB Report.”
Remonde said it is to everybody’s interest to seek the truth, the root cause and effect.
“We have to see the World Bank Report and let us not discount the fact that with the nearing election, it is popular that they are riding on the popularity of the issue so that they will be in the news. We have to see the chaff from the grain,” he said.
Barbers said the World Bank report subjected his deceased father and the other accused to the “bar of public opinion by somebody who doesn’t want to be known.”
“Even in our Bill of Rights which we copied from the Americans, the same people who dominate the World Bank, the accused is given the right to cross-examine the witnesses against him,” he stressed.
But this right, Barbers said, was not even accorded to them as the World Bank failed to give them a chance to defend themselves.
To avoid further controversies, Barbers suggested that the World Bank and other similar entities, which have projects in the Philippines , to pick their own contractors to undertake the projects they bankroll.
“I am sure that the Filipino people will welcome this suggestion as it will end corruption, in their projects at least,” Barbers said.
It provides that in case of violations by the construction firms, the president, chief executive officer, manager, administrator, directors or any officer in charge of the management and administration of the business shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment of not less than six years and one day, but not more than l0 years and a fine of not less than Pl million but not more than P5 million at the discretion of the court. Likewise, they shall be held civilly and criminally liable under other applicable laws.
In the case of government officials are found to have violated the provisions of this Act, they shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment of not less than six years and one day, but not more than l2 years and a fine of not less than P500,000 nor more than P2 million at the discretion of the court.
In addition, the public officers involved shall also suffer the penalty of perpetual and absolute disqualification from public office. This is without prejudice to other civil, criminal and administrative cases that may be filed against the public officers concerned.
“The government must be vigilant in defending the integrity and reliability of public transactions and should hold wrongdoers accountable under the law,” Pimentel stressed. (tribune) Read rest of story...
Dako ang pasalamat sa DEPED Province ug Siargao Division ngadto sa atong manggihatagong gobernador Robert Ace Barbers diin sa makausa pa, siya mipakita na usab sa iyang sinsiridad sa pagpangalagad ug panirbisyo sa katawhan sa dihang siya opisyal nga mi turn-over sa duha ka sakyanan ug lima ka hp laptops kanila. Ang maong kalihukan malampusong gilusad didto gawas sa Bulwagan sa Kapitolyo niadtong miaging adlaw, Pebrero 5, 2009.
Usa ka Gray-colored Adventure ug duha ka hp laptops ang gihatag pinaagi na sa mga kadagku-an sa DEPED Surigao del Norte Division, OIC Schools Division Superintendent nga mao si Dr. Fidela M. Rosas. Ug usab sa DEPED Siargao Division, mapasalamatong midawat ang OIC Schools Division Superintendent niini na si Dr. Daylinda J. Tampus sa usa ka puti nga L300 Van ug usab duha ka laptops.
Adunay usab usa ka laptop ang gigahin sa atong maalagarong gobernador para sa Alternative Learning System nga iyang gipahinungod ngadto sa mga nag atender na mga priso sa Detainees Accessible Competitive Edge nga ubos sa Education Behind Bars nga proyekto ni Gob. Ace Barbers.
Nagkanayon ang mga opisyales sa DEPED nga ang pagpangalagad ni Gob. Ace Barbers tinuoray gayud ug siya motuman sa iyang mga saad sa mga katawhan. Dugang pa niini, sila mipasalig sa pangagamhanan sa probinsya, nga ang maong mga equipo magamit dili lamang sa mga kadagku-an sa maong dapartamento kon dili kini usab mosangop sa mga panginahanglanon sa ubang magtutudlo hilabi na gayud ang mga estudyante nga maoy labing prayoridad sa kasamtangang gobyerno sa probinsya.
Si Gob. Ace Barbers malipayon ug malaumon nga mipadangat sa iyang mensahe ug siya nagkanayon nga unta ang maong mga gamit pahimuslan ug mayo diha sa saktong paagi ug usab kini magsilbing inspirasyon diha sa mga sumusunod nga henerasyon nga sila magmadasigon sa pagtungha sa eskuylahan.
Uban usab sa maong pag turn-over mao ang kaabag ni Gob. Ace Barbers sa panirbisyo nga si Vice-Gov. Noel P. Catre uban sa lima usab ka bokal sa distrito dos, Board Member regina Alaa, BM Melva P. Garcia, BM Isabelita Edera ug BM Victor Borja. (PGO-Media Bureau)
Expect a rainy weekend in Metro Manila, Southern Luzon and parts of the Visayas and Mindanao, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Friday.
Nonoy About of the PAGASA forecasting center said the rains are caused by the tailend of a cold front affecting the Visayas and parts of Luzon.
“We expect rains for the next three days. But next week, we expect conditions to improve,” he told the Inquirer.
About said weathermen spotted a shallow low-pressure area 100 kilometers east of Surigao City and it moving westward across the Visayas region. “This means rains in the area, mostly the eastern parts.”
A low-pressure area is considered by weather forecasters as a mild form of tropical depressions. Cold fronts are formed in the boundaries of masses of cold and warm air. This meeting leads to the formation of clouds and rain.
About said they do not expect the low-pressure area to intensify into a tropical cyclone. (inquirer.net) Read rest of story...
A low-pressure area (LPA) threatens to bring flash floods and landslides to parts of Visayas and Mindanao as it moved closer to those areas Saturday morning.
The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said the LPA was 120 kms north of Cagayan de Oro City or 70 km east-southeast of Tagbilaran City in Bohol as of 2 a.m.
"Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao will experience cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and isolated thunderstorms becoming widespread rains over Eastern Visayas and Northern Mindanao which may trigger flashfloods and landslides," it said in its 5 a.m. bulletin.
On the other hand, it said the tail-end of a cold front continues to affect Eastern Luzon.
"The rest of Eastern Luzon will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rains while the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated light rains," it said.
Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast will prevail over Luzon and Visayas and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough, it said.
Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the northeast and east with slight to moderate seas, it added.
Meanwhile, Pagasa said the surge of the northeast monsoon will affect the seaboards of Luzon and Eastern Visayas.
"Fishing boats and other small sea craft are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea craft are alerted against big waves," it said. - GMANews.TV Read rest of story...
The sons of deceased former senator Robert Barbers are preparing to file charges against those who implicated their father in the alleged collusion between construction firms blacklisted by the World Bank, a radio report said Friday.
Radio dzBB's Denver Trinidad quoted the late senator's son, former Philippine Tourism Authority general manager Robert Dean Barbers, as saying he and his brother, Surigao del Norte governor Robert Ace Barbers, as saying dragging their father's name into the mess was "unethical."
While the report did not say who the Barbers brothers will be filing their charges against, it quoted the former PTA official as saying they are dismayed with Sen. Panfilo Lacson who revealed the late senator's alleged involvement with the construction firms accused of collusive practices.
The former PTA official pointed out that Lacson is the chair of the Senate committee on ethics as well as a former colleague of the late former senator.
Robert Dean added that his father was full of integrity and was a genuine public servant.
Before going into politics, Robert Barbers had quite a colorful career as a police officer, capped by his participation in the elimination of several notorious drug traffickers when he was detailed to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) under retired police general Alfredo Lim.
Barbers went on to become a member of the House of Representatives while Lim became mayor of Manila. They also both served as secretary of interior and local government at different times and held seats in the Senate.
Earlier, Lacson said excerpts of the World Bank report on the sanctioned firms implicated several political personalities in the controversy, including the late senator Barbers, former Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay, former Negros Oriental Rep. Jerome Paras, and First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo. - GMANews.TV Read rest of story...
Sa ginadhanun karon nga mga biktima sa Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever, ug sa padayon nga kakulangan sa suplay sa dugo nga unta kanunayng naka pondo sa matag district health centers ug mga ospital, si Gob. Ace Barbers dayon mihimo ug aksyon kabatok na sa pagsulbad sa maong probleme pinaagi na sa nakahanayng mga kalihukan ubos sa pagdumala sa Provincial Health Office.
Tungod niini, unya sa alas 8 sa buntag hangtod sa alas 12 sa ting paniudto, gi-awhag sa maong departamento ang tanang kadagku-an sa nagkalain-laing opisina sa Kapitolyo ug mga empleyado niini nga sila mopahigayon sa ilang bloodletting activity didto sa Provincial Health office Conference Room nga nahimutang mismo sa Kapitolyo ning atong syudad.
Dako ang pang hinaut ni Gob. Ace Barbers nga ang maong kalihukan pagasuportahan sa mga nagkalain-laing empleyado sa Kapitolyo. Dugang pa niini, siya mibutyag nga unta ang maong bloodletting activity magmalampuson ug mabungahon ug pinaagi niini atong Makita ang tinuoray nga pagtinabangay diha sa pagpakgang sa maong makamaty nga sakit. (PGO-Media Bureau)
A local contractor accused in a World Bank report of taking part in the rigging of bids for local road projects funded by the agency has challenged his accusers to undergo a lie detector test, a television report said Thursday. In her report in GMA News’ “24 Oras," Maki Pulido said Eduardo de Luna, owner of E.C. de Luna Construction Corp., denied the allegations against him and his company, saying they are all “rumors."
“Lahat po nang laman nito (World Bank report) ay puro tsismis [The contents of the World Bank report are all rumors]," De Luna said as he challenged his accusers to undergo a lie detector test.
“Ang tsismis napakalakas manira, pero ang lie detector test malalaman natin kung sino nagsasabi ng totoo [Rumors can ruin a person, but through a lie detector test, we’ll find out who’s saying the truth]," he said.
De Luna suspected that he became a subject of smear campaign by contractors who lost in the bid. He said he has been in the construction business for 20 years and it was in 2002 when he won a bid for a multi-million road project funded by WB.
The project, however, was not implemented after WB reportedly received an e-email disclosing irregularities in the bidding process, the report said.
Aside from De Luna, personalities implicated in the World Bank report were First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, deceased former Senator Robert Barbers, former Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay, and former Negros Oriental Rep. Jerome Paras.
Surigao del Norte Governor Robert Ace Barbers, son of ex- Sen. Barbers, defended his father from any wrongdoing. He also challenged the supposed witnesses who informed the World Bank of the alleged anomalies to face the people they are accusing.
“Magpakilala ‘yung witness, humarap sa tamang forum para makadepensa naman ‘yung mga ini-implicate nila. Malay mo nag-iimbento lang ‘yun [The witness should come out in the open and bring the accusations to the proper forum so that those who are implicated can defend themselves]," Barbers said.
Pichay said he is studying the possibility of filing a libel case against the World Bank. - with Aie Balagtas See, GMANews.TV Read rest of story...
Gob. Ace Barbers mihimo sa 1st Surigao del Norte Anti-Drug Summit agig aksyon kalabot na sa Memorandum Circular sa Office of the Secretary sa DILG, diin giawhag ang mga local nga mga pangagamhanan nga mohinang ug hiniusang aksyon batok sa illegal nga droga
Si Gob. Barbers mihimo sa maong tigum kagahapong adlawa, Pebrero 04, 2009 didto sa PPDO Conference Room sa Kapitolyo uban ni Vice-Gov. Noel Catre ug mayor Pons Casurra.
Ang maong meeting gisalmutan sa nagkalain laing law enforcement departments sa probinsya nga naglakip sa PDEA, PNP, DILG u gang Fiscal Office labi na ang Regional State Prosecutor Horacio Gonzaga, aron sa pagtuki sa eksaktong mga paagi aron mahimong episyente ug epektibo ang pagpatuman sa maong kamanduan.
Madasigon ang tanang mga misalmot sa maong tigum sa pagpaambit sa ilang tagsa-tagsa ka mga suhestyon aron maayo ug sakto ang paghimo sa proseso sa operasyon kalabot na sa pagpakgang sa mga illegal nga droga ug trafficking.
Ang mga suhestyon naglakip na sa paghatag ug dugang mga pagbansay-bansay, seminars sa mga kapolisan, education campaigns, school symposiums, ug random drug testing dili lamang sa mga estudyante kundi apil usab ang mga empleyado sa kapitolyo nagkanayon ang Gobernador.
Dako ang panghinaut ni Gob. Ace Barbers nga mamahimong magmalampuson ug mabungahon ang maong tigum alang na sa kaayohan sa tanan labi na ang mga kabatan-onan. (PGO-Media Bureau)
Dako ang kalipay sa mga mag-uuma sa tibuok probinsya sa ubay-ubay nga tabang ug benepisyo nga ilang nadawat gikan sa buotang gobernador Robert Ace Barbers uban sa pagdumala sa Provincial Agriculture Office.
Sa milabayng duha ka semana, kung ato madumduman, malampusong gilusad ang pang apud-apud ug halos 500 ka kahon nga seaweed liquid fertilizers nga ginganlag Freegrow sa mga nagkadaiyang mga munisipyo sa probinsya pinaagi na sa mga municipal agriculturist ug mga technicians niini. Sa 20 ka munisipyo, adunay gigahin nga 100 ka galon sa kada usa kanila diin ang ratio niini, 1 ka gallon sa 1 ka ektarya nga pananom. Ang maong pang apud apud ubos sa Fertilizer Assistance Program ni Gob. Ace Barbers, dako ug tabang para sa mga mag uuma.
Sa laing bahin usab gihimo sa Provincial Agriculture Office ang ubay-ubay nga pang apud-apod ug mga rehab palay seeds diha sa pipila ka mag uuma nga apektado sa nangagubang ektarya sa palay tungod sa makusog ug walay hunong nga ulan. Ang mga gipang hatag nga palay seeds nga mao ang RC 18 ug RC 128 “varieties”, halos mokabat sa 200 ka sako.
Dugang pa, nagmapasalamaton usab ang mga mag-uuma sa lalawigan kang Gob. Ace Barbers sa dako kaayo ug tabang niini sa nagpadayon nga pang apud-apud ug mga materyales nga kinahanglanon para sa palay check program nga gilusad sa kada munisipyo diin kadtong Enero 29, 2009 gipahigayon ang maong pag panghatag didto sa mga mag uuma sa Socorro. Ang maong programa, usa ka pamaagi aron sa pag edukar sa atong mga mag-uuma sa sakto ug tukma nga mga proseso sa pag amuma sa ilang mga palay ug uban pang pananom.
Dako ang kalipay ni Gob. Ace Barbers sa dihang iyang nakita ug nasinati ang kalipay nga gipakita sa mga mag uuma sa dihang ilang nadawat ang maong mga tabang para sa kalamboan sa ilang panginabuhi. Siya malaumon nga ang maong tabang maghatag ug dugang kadasig kanila sa pagpadayon sa pagpalambo sa agrikultura ug pagpausbaw sa produksiyon sa palay sa probinsya.(PGO-Media Bureau)
On February 2, 2009 at 8:25, PNP elements from Provincial Anti-Vice Task Force (PAVTAG) led by SPO1 Espina arrested Victoria Dangallo Gonzales, 48 years old, married and a resident of Purok-12 Navalca, Barangay San Juan, Surigao City while inside Victoria's Flower Shop located at Luneta Park, San Nicolas Street, Barangay Washington, Surigao City.
Gonzales allegedly a “swertres” coordinator was caught in the act engaging in Illegal Gambling activities.
Confiscated from the suspect’s possession were several “swertres” paraphernalia.
Suspect was brought to the police station for documentation and proper disposition.
Also, at around 7:05 in the evening of the same date, PNP members of Placer Municipal Police Station headed by PInsp Alejandro Recimo conducted an operation against Illegal Gambling at Barangay Magsaysay, Placer, Surigao del Norte.
The operation resulted to the arrest of Armando Labad Bagul, 22 years old, single, “swertres” bet collector and a resident of Barangay Magsaysay.
Confiscated from the suspect’s possession were one tally sheet, one piece ballpen and bet money amounting to Php 615.00 in different denominations.
Subject was brought to Placer Municipal Police Station for documentation and proper disposition. (PNP-13/ PIA-Caraga)
MANILA, Philippines—Ten people have implicated President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s husband Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo, politicians and public works officials in the purported collusion and rigging of government projects funded by the World Bank, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said Wednesday.
Without naming the informants, Lacson said he had a copy of “excerpts” of the World Bank report of over 100 pages, and that it had “incriminating details” and was “substantial enough to make conclusions.”
“Offhand, there are at least 10 witnesses who implicated not only the First Gentleman, not only a former senator, but [also] other congressmen and other politicians and public works officials,” he told reporters.
Lacson said the World Bank report named the ex-senator, fixers at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and some politicians.
He said the 10 people included Japanese, Chinese, Korean and Filipino contractors, as well as a former government official.
Rigged bidding
Lacson showed some of the pages of the World Bank report where the names of Mike Arroyo and some politicians were mentioned.
A Filipino contractor told a World Bank investigator of the roles played by those involved in the purported rigged bidding of the government projects.
Portions of the report read: “[The Filipino contractor] said Mr. Miranda and Mr. [Boy] Belleza both actively work to manipulate bidding. [The contractor] said Mr. [Ed] de Luna is ‘behind’ Mr. Miranda, and the husband of Philippine President Gloria Arroyo, First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, is ‘behind’ Mr. De Luna.
“[The Filipino contractor] said Mr. De Luna takes an active role in arranging collusive bid schemes on behalf of contractors and politicians. [The contractor] said Sen. Robert Barbers (now deceased) was active in using his influence to further the collusive bid schemes.”
The contractor said then Public Works Secretary Florante Soriquez “exercises a very large influence on the schemes and ensures their success.”
The same source said “the colluders’ meetings take place in different places, which change frequently.” These meetings used to happen at Diamond Hotel in Manila but “also now occur elsewhere.”
The contractor “understands the total payoff to equal between 15-20 percent of the total value of the contract,” and that “all payments are made in cash, and that his company’s books do not reflect any of these payments in any event because the books are faked to avoid taxes,” the report said.
On the phone, Barbers’ sons angrily denied the allegation against their father.
Said Surigao del Norte Gov. Ace Barbers: “That’s a slanderous and libelous statement... May I ask the World Bank to name this contractor and categorically state that Senator Barbers used his influence. I will definitely deny that for the reason that there was never an opportunity or time for my father to use his influence in getting contracts. His good track record will speak for that.”
Said former Philippine Tourism Authority general manager Robert Dean Barbers: “My family and I are outraged. My father has been dead for three years and they should not involve him in politics. My father had many friends but that doesn’t prove ... that he was into this. People [came] to him to befriend him and some [used] his name in influence-peddling.”
Primary facilitators
Another page of the World Bank report quoted a former government official “who expressed concern over collusion in the bidding processes for road projects” and identified the following as “the primary arrangers or facilitators of the collusion:”
“Contractor Eduardo de Luna who was ‘masterminding’ bids, is close to Mr. Arroyo and is a go-between of Mr. Arroyo on foreign-assisted projects.”
“DPWH staff member ‘Boy’ Belleza whom [the official] described as a long-time arranger dating back to the Marcos regime. [The official] said Mr. Belleza had been barred for a time from the DPWH offices.”
The same official “named multiple congressmen and senators who had taken bribes, including former Senator Barbers.”
The same source said the DPWH members who had taken bribes included “Soriquez (who is close to Mr. Arroyo and Mr. De Luna) and Project Director Lope Adriano.”
Adjusting prices
Another page of the World Bank report quoted another Filipino contractor who reported an incident in August 2006 concerning a project that was being fixed by De Luna:
“They are busy in raising the project ABC and forced other contractors to give to China Geo in 1.4B, China Road in 1.6A, and China Wuyi in 1.6B, they use the name of the First Gentleman and local politicians like Congressman Paras in (Negros) and Congressman Pichay (in Surigao). If the contractors don’t want to coordinate with them, they will blacklist you, or they will disqualify you always.”
Lacson’s interpretation of this page was that the arrangement was for the awards and bidding committee to adjust the bidding price higher than 10-15 percent of the original agency estimate, and the contractor gave a breakdown of how the adjusted higher price would be shared.
The page showed that Mike Arroyo took 5 percent; local politicians, 5 to 6 percent; and contractors, 3 percent.
The Senate has formally requested the World Bank to furnish it copies of the documents used as basis in blacklisting three Filipino construction firms.
The request was contained in a letter dated Feb. 2 to World Bank Director Bert Hofman by Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, the chair of the Senate economic affairs committee.
Santiago inquired whether the World Bank would be willing to submit to her committee certain documents pertaining to the blacklisting of E.C. de Luna Construction Corp., Cavite Ideal International Construction and Development Corp. and CM Pancho Construction Inc.
She told Hofman that she had a copy of the World Bank report, which was furnished by the contractors during the committee hearing last week.
“I have acknowledged that under international law, the Philippine government has no power to subpoena the Bank officials, or Bank documents,” Santiago said, adding:
“However, I am hoping that the Bank itself will voluntarily waive its immunity, and give us documents that might lead to the identification of certain Filipino politicians or other public officials who may have facilitated the alleged collusion.
“For this same purpose, I have asked for NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) assistance. Should you be willing to give me copies of any pertinent documents, I will have to release them to the Senate media.” Appeal
In an interview Wednesday, Santiago reiterated that no Philippine government agency could subpoena World Bank officials or documents.
“So I appealed to [Hofman], in the interest of Philippine public service and our anticorruption campaign, to voluntarily release the documents to the committee,” she said.
Santiago said that as much as possible, congressional hearings should abide by the Rules of Court.
“The Rules of Court prohibiting hearsay are mandatory in judicial courts. If a Senate committee endorses to the Ombudsman or to the prosecutors a criminal case based only on hearsay evidence, it will be thrown out,” she said.
Santiago was referring to an online news item alleging that a Japanese contractor, who had since left the country, implicated Mike Arroyo in corrupt practices.
She said the “Internet news item is hearsay and, therefore, has no probative value” at this point.
Different copies
Lacson said the Japanese contractor who had admitted meeting with Mike Arroyo and others was one Mr. Suzuka.
He also quoted the report where Mr. Suzuka met with Mike Arroyo and Barbers on at least one occasion.
Santiago said she had a copy of the World Bank final report, and that it did not mention the purported testimony against Ms Arroyo’s husband.
She said that under the hearsay rule, a witness could testify only to what he had perceived by his own senses.
“If the World Bank gives me the documents that incriminate the First Gentleman or any other public official, I will immediately set a hearing and invite them. If they don’t appear, I’ll take it a step farther and subpoena them,” she said.
Told that Santiago had a copy of the World Bank’s final report and that it did not mention the allegations against Mike Arroyo, Lacson said his copy was different from what Santiago was holding.
“Kung wala doon, mali ang kopya niya (If it’s not there, her copy is wrong). I’m sure about that,” Lacson said.
He said that while he had an incomplete report, he had read it and it clearly contained the allegations against Mike Arroyo, the ex-senator and others: “Binasa ko; kulang ang nasa akin na WB report pero malinaw doon ang pag-implicate kay FG, sa ex-senator and other politicians.” Confusing
Contacted on the phone, Mike Arroyo’s lawyer Ruy Rondain said the appearance of Lacson’s documents had made things “confusing.”
“I’m hearing different reports. There were some senators (Santiago and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile) saying they saw the World Bank report and that the First Gentleman was not mentioned, and a senator is now saying he is,” Rondain said.
“But even if Mr. Arroyo is named, the Japanese contractor is nameless and faceless, and as Senators Enrile and Santiago said, it’s hearsay.”
Told that Lacson had identified the Japanese contractor as a Mr. Suzuka, Rondain said: “So who is he?”
Corruption
The three construction firms were blacklisted for purported corrupt and fraudulent practices in connection with Phase 1 of the National Road Improvement Project financed by the World Bank.
The total project cost amounted to $305.41 million, with the World Bank shouldering $150 million by way of a loan. The balance of $155.42 million was to be shouldered by the government as its counterpart fund.
The bank has withheld funding for the project, although the DPWH proceeded with two of the 10 contract packages under the NRIMP-1 using local funds. (inquirer.net) Read rest of story...
Canadian firm Mindoro Resources Ltd. expects sometime this quarter to begin drilling for copper, gold and silver in Batangas province, south of Manila.
Mindoro Resources “is well positioned to capitalize on the global demand for gold in 2009, with plans underway to drill the Kay Tanda and Lobo gold projects, funded by [our partners] Avocet Mining PLC and Gold Fields,” the company said in a statement.
Gold Fields has advised that it “anticipates the first drill program to commence on the Lobo porphyry copper-gold project prior to the end of the first quarter,” Mindoro Resources added
In September 2008, Mindoro Resources signed a non-binding letter agreement with a member of the Gold Fields group of companies. The agreement established the basic commercial framework where Gold Fields could earn up to 75-percent interest in each of Mindoro Resources’ El Paso, Lobo and Talahib copper-gold projects.
The mineral exploration company also has a memorandum of understanding with Avocet, a London-based gold producer, for its Archangel project.
Under this document, Avocet is allowed to have up to 75-percent interest in the Archangel project, which includes the Kay Tanda gold-silver resource and several other copper-gold prospects.
As of last month, Avocet had contracted Indodrill Philippines Inc. to do an initial, minimum 1,500 meters of diamond drilling at Kay Tanda, Mindoro Resources said said.
Avocet said that the rig to be used in the Kay Tanda operations was “en route to the site, and expected to arrive within the week.”
Mindoro Resources also said it hoped to finalize within the year two additional joint venture arrangements for its copper-gold prospects at Pan de Azucar, off Panay Island, and at the Surigao area in Mindanao.
The company’s interests in Surigao covers 24,000 hectares — the second-largest mineral holdings in the province — with mineral zones of epithermal gold, copper-gold porphyry, and nickel-cobalt laterite.
Mindoro Resources said it was identifying a suitable partner to fund development of its “significant Agata North nickel resource” in Surigao del Norte province.
Estimates on Agata North showed a combined measured and indicated resources of 4.95 million wet metric tons of mineral with grades of 1.18 percent nickel, 0.074 percent cobalt and 28 percent iron, translating to some 92.4 million pounds of nickel.
Mindoro Resources has so far identified 22 copper-gold prospects in the Philippines. With editing by INQUIRER.net Read rest of story...
Usa sa mga kanunayng gtinguha sa pangagamhanan ni Gob. Ace Barbers mao ang pag”promote” sa probinsya sa Surigao del Norte aron kini mailhan dili lamang sa nasud sa Pilipinas, kundi pati sa tibuok kalibutan diin malampusong gi presentar sa Information Technology Unit sa Kapitolyo kagahapong adlawa, February 02, 2009 ang official provincial website nga mao ang www. Surigaodelnorte.gov.ph. Apan sa kasamtangan, maoy gamiton una ang http://210.4.45.212 samtamg giaplayan pa karon ang domain name nga www.surigaodelnorte.gov.ph.
Sa “adbans nga mga teknolohiya”, gipahimuslan karon sa probinsya sa paggamit sa maong paagi sa pagdala sa mga proyekto ug mga programa ni Gob. Ace Barbers, alang sa kalamboan sa tibuok katawhan sa Surigao del Norte.
Gidugang pa sa maalagarong Gobernador nga usa usab kini nga paagi nga mapakita sa mga katawhan ang usa ka responsable nga paggamit sa maong natad sa komunikasyon, diin mahatag usab sa mga katawhan ang ilang katungod sa impormasyon pinasikad na sa “transparency” ug “accountability”.
Dako ang panghinaut ni Gob. Ace Barbers nga mag mabungahon ang maong mga paningkamot sa pag awhag ug pagpalambo sa probinsya, ug usab pinaagi sa maong website, kanunay kini suportahan sa mga katawhan pinaagi sa pagbisita niini. (SdN PGO-Media Bureau) Read rest of story...
Sa walay paglangan-langan, sa dihang nasinati na usab sa probinsya ang sigeng ulan-ulan sa milabay nga duha na ka adlaw sugod niadtong Enero 8, 2009, gimotor dayun ni Gob. Ace Barbers ang mga kalungsuran ug mipadala pagdali sa RESCUEE 44, Provincial Engineering Office ug DSWD aron pagsuta sa kahimtang sa mga katawhan.
Sa nahipus nga inpormasyon sa Media Bureau sa buhatan sa Gobernador, dili maagihan karon ang may dapit sa Punta Agata, Brgy. Jubgan, Malimono tungod sa landslide.
Gikasamtangan karon nga gitrabaho ang maong dalan sa mga taga Provincial Engineering Office, uban ang RESCUEE 44 sa lalawigan, ug gipasiguro usab kini ni Gob. Ace Barbers nga luwas ang mga katawhan. Sa peligro. (SdN PGO-Media Bureau)
The merger of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats and the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) continues to gain grounds with the completion of the nine-man special committee headed by Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs Gabriel Claudio.
The Lakas panel would be headed by Secretary to the Cabinet Silvestre Bello III with Iloilo Rep. Art Defensor, Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos and Local Water Utilities Administration chairman and Lakas spokesman Prospero Pichay as members.
On the other hand, the KAMPI panel is headed by Sorsogon Rep. Joey Solis and composed of Reps. Pablo Garcia (Cebu), Francisco Matugas (Surigao del Norte) and Amado Bagatsing (Manila).
Claudio, who is also senior deputy secretary general of Lakas, said with the completion of the two panels, and "with enough patience and cooperation from both sides," he is confident that the merger of the two parties within three months as "reasonable."
"What we want is an authentic, working merger that will produce positive results for both parties and the administration," Claudio said.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo last January 29 ordered the creation of the National Consolidation and Unification Committee to oversee the merger of Lakas and Kampi.
President Arroyo is the current chairman of Lakas, while Kampi is the party she founded in 1998.
The President wants the administration groups to “fight side by side in 2010." - GMANews.TV Read rest of story...
The administration parties Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) and Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) have identified 12 issues that need to be resolved before they could pursue the merger, a Lakas official said.
Lakas senior deputy secretary general Gabriel Caludio said he met with Kampi President Luis Villafuerte on Tuesday, during which Villafuerte identified the 12 points.
“I concur with the relevance or need to resolve most, if not all these issues,” Claudio said in a text message without elaborating.
“[It is] better to tackle issues now rather than force a merger only to find out later that all we have is a facade of a merger and an erupting volcano underneath,” said Claudio, whom the President named as head of the committee that will pursue the union.
Claudio is also Arroyo’s political adviser.
During the meeting, Claudio said the members of the unification committee were also named -- Cabinet Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Quezon City Representative Arthur Defensor, Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos and former congressman Prospero Pichay on the Lakas side, and Sorsogon Representative Jose Solis, Cebu Representative Pablo Garcia, Surigao del Norte Representative Francisco Matugas, and Manila Representative Amado Bagatsing on the Kampi side. (inquirer.net) Read rest of story...
Cebu Pacific (CEB), the Philippines' leading domestic airline, has allocated over 100,000 seats for its all-inclusive 'Go Lite' seat sale for all of its domestic routes.
The promotional sale will run from February 4 to 10, 2009, or until the allotted seats are sold out. Travel period is from February 4 to March 31, 2009. This promotion is non-refundable.
CEB has also taken delivery of its seventh brand new ATR 72-500 from Tolouse, France. The new aircraft will serve CEB's expanding domestic network and will also be utilized for new destinations such as Catarman, Calbayog, Virac (Catanduanes), and Cauayan (Isabela).
Candice Iyog, CEB VP for marketing and distribution, said, "We are providing the public with the lowest domestic fares together with the country's youngest aircraft fleet."
Iyog added, "Despite economic uncertainties, the public can continue to be assured of our commitment to offer the lowest possible fares in all the routes operated by CEB."
CEB offers a P1,188 all-in promo 'Go Lite' fare from Manila to Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Cotabato, Davao, Dipolog, GenSan, and Zamboanga.
The airline also offers a P688 all-in 'Go Lite' fare from:
•Manila to Dumaguete and Roxas; •Cebu to Boracay (Caticlan), Clark, Cotabato, Davao, Dipolog, GenSan, Legaspi, Ozamiz, Puerto Princesa, Siargao, and Zamboanga; and •Davao to Iloilo and Zamboanga.
CEB also has a P488 all-in 'Go Lite' fare for flights from:
•Manila to Bacolod, Calbayog, Catarman, Caticlan (Boracay), Kalibo, Puerto Princesa, Tacloban Tagbilaran, and Virac; and •Cebu to Caticlan (Boracay)
Moreover, CEB also extends a P288 all-in 'Go Lite' seat sale from:
•Manila to Cauayan (Isabela), Laoag, and Tuguegarao; and •Cebu to Bacolod, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Dumaguete, Iloilo, Surigao, and Tacloban.
A P188 all-in 'Go Lite' fare is also available from Manila to Busuanga, Cebu, Iloilo, Legaspi, Naga, San Jose (Mindoro).
Iyog concluded, "We urge the public to act fast and book their flights through CEB's website, www.cebupacifcair.com , call the reservations hotline at (02) 70-20-888, or visit their nearest travel agents." Read rest of story...
