The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) and Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of the province in coordination with the Office of the Land Registration Authority made last Thursday, May 28, 2009 another round of land title distribution to the farmers of Brgy. Mahanub, Gigaquit town, this province.

Initially, some 49 farmer beneficiaries received their respective land titles in line with the celebration of the National Flag Day.

The said activity implies significant feat on the part of the patent beneficiaries in their quest to acquire land patent/title over the land they tilt in order to have an absolute ownership on the same parcel of land.

Mr. Vicente L. Sembrano, Land Management Officer III of PENRO Surigao del Norte, in his message explained the mechanics in the acquisition of land title and its importance. Accordingly, their office offers technical assistance in the form of a Public Land Survey and Patent Processing activity until finally to patent issuance.

Meanwhile, Atty. Edilberto T. Ensomo, of the Land Registration Authority, explained the importance of land title, and according to him patents must be properly kept to avoid intentional losses and deterioration.

Gigaquit Mayor Carlos M. Egay, Sr., on the other hand, explained the importance of the National Flag in our existence.

"There is a must for respect of our flag as this symbolize the patriotic act of our heroes in search for independence and further stress the value of land title geared toward development especially in needs of our government improvement," Egay said.

Also, CENRO Eutiquio M. Bade, Jr. of CENRO-Surigao City, in his short message expressed his appreciation for the cooperation extended by the barangay officials of the said locality and for making the event successful. (DENR/PIA-SdN)
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Local officials, beach resort owners, residents, surfers, and environmentalists have banded together to promote local surfing and environmental protection to preserve the coastal area of San Juan town in La Union and other surfing sites in the country.

Stakeholders led by San Juan Mayor Ruben Valero Jr. have joined the Green Zinc Clean Shores Philippines Inc., a non-government organization, to raise funds and educate residents of coastal villages and tourists to help clean up the beach and control marine pollution caused by raw sewage from households.

Danish citizen Uffe Konig, 67, co-owner of the Little Surfmaid Resort in Barangay Urbiztondo, San Juan, said Green Zinc helps promote environmental consciousness among residents and local and foreign tourists who go to San Juan to learn how to surf.

“San Juan, which is about five hours’ drive from Manila, has become a favorite tourist destination in the north in the past several years because of the unending waves that made the coastal town famous for surfing,” said Konig.

He said Little Surfmaid, like other resorts in San Juan such as Sebay Resort Hotel, San Juan Surf Resort, and Monaliza Resort, offers surfing lessons to beginners.

Konig, a former official of the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef), is also the liaison officer of Green Zinc Clean Shores, which is devoted to keep the beaches of the Philippines clean and beautiful. Konig, Australian expat Chris Sullivan, presidential daughter Luli Arroyo, and Luigi Bernas organized Green Zinc in 2007.

Sullivan, Green Zinc president, said the group coordinates with the local government and residents to raise awareness, organize volunteers to clean up the beach, and raise funds to help communities sustain their own commitment to clean the shoreline.

The organization has donated a garbage truck and trash bins for the beach. It spearheads the fund-raising drive through the sale of Green Zinc t-shirts and getting corporate sponsors for surfing tournaments.

Sullivan, who is also a surfer, said Green Zinc has coordinated with the La Union Surf Club, which is composed of 70 local surfing instructors, to clean up the beach every Friday.

He said they would also construct public toilets with running water and septic tanks that local settlers could use to prevent the dumping of raw sewage into the South China Sea.

Arroyo, external relations officer of Green Zinc, said the group is now embarking on an information campaign to further educate the residents of San Juan and other coastal villages to be concerned about the preservation of the environment.

Aside from San Juan, she said the organization also targets Siargao in Surigao del Norte, Baler in Aurora, Daet in Camarines Norte, Zambales and other surfing areas in the country.

“If they (residents) don’t take care of the beach, it’s their loss. The local community is the main component and the project will only be successful if the local government unit and the local community invest their effort in it,” said Arroyo, who has been surfing for the past four years.

Sullivan said the San Juan municipal government has recognized Green Zinc’s efforts by giving the organization the Baratao Award last Dec. 27 for “providing sustainable development along the surfing area in Barangay Urbiztondo, (which) vis-a-vis solid waste management, clean-up activities and tourism-related projects, is a priceless contribution and meritorious support in the development of the municipality of San Juan to be a better place to live in and as a world-class tourist destination.”

Lemon Dines, president of the La Union Surf Club, said the surfing instructors do not only teach tourists how to surf, but also remind them to keep the beach clean.

Omar Gandabali, a surfing instructor and official of the Little Surfmaid Resort, said local and foreign surfers as well as residents have become more conscious of the environment since the surfing club joined the clean-up program. (news and photo from philstar.com)

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Ang Siargao Manpower Training ug Development Center sa Siargao ug Bucas Grande sa dili madugay tukuron na sa dili pa matapos ang tuig 2009. Sa pamahayag nga giluwatan ni Kongresista Lalo Matugas iyang gikalipay pagpahibalo nga iya na nadawat ang SARO numero gikan kang Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile sa kantidad nga 5 milyones ka pesos para sa maong building. Ang Siargao Manpower Training ug Development Center anha ipabarog sa yuta nga gi-donar sa pamilya Matugas sa tuyo nga makatabang sa mga kabus ug makugihon nga mga bata nga gusto mopahimulos sa mga programa sa TESDA.

Ang kinatibuk-an nga kantidad sa maong building mokabat ug napulo ka milyones ka pesos (10,000,000.00) nga dunay saad gikan kang Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile 5 milyones ka pesos, Senador Meriam Santiago 4 milyon ka pesos gikan sa iyang PDAF. Ang pagpa-barog sa maong building mag-abli sa dako nga kahigayonan sa kabatan-onan sa Siargao ug Bucas Grande sa natad sa pang-trabaho sa nasud ug sa gawas gumikan sa mga kurso nga ilang makuha gikan sa TESDA.

Si Kongresista Lalo Matugas sa dihang Gobernador pa sa lalawigan sa Surigao del Norte maoy unang Gobernador nga nakapabarog sa Provincial Manpower and Training Center sa Caraga Region nga karon napahimuslan na nan mga Surigaonon. Ang Siargao Manpower Training ug Development Center gikan sa pondo nga gipangayo ni Kongresista Lalo Matugas sa iyang mga kaila nga Senador ug walay usa ka kusing nga Loan sa maong proyekto. (Ed Mapayo, Surigao Balita)


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JAPAN’S SUMITOMO Metal Mining Co. Ltd. and local holding firm Nickel Asia Corp. will put up a $3-billion nickel ore processing plant in northeastern Mindanao next year.

The joint venture partners will operate the nickel processing plant by 2013, Rogelio G. Cadano, technical services manager of Taganito Mining Corp., said yesterday in a presentation to Mines and Geosciences Bureau officials.

The $1.7-billion investment target set by the venture last year was almost doubled to $3 billion this year given an increase in expected mineral production to 45,000 metric tons of nickel per year, with 4,500 metric tons of cobalt, from the original 30,000 metric tons per year.

The ores to be processed will come from a 1,000-hectare nickel mine in the municipality of Claver in Surigao del Norte, Mr. Cadano said.

"The joint venture company with Sumitomo should be formed by the end of this year or early next year," said Antonio K. Espeleta, vice-president for operation of Taganito HPAL Nickel Corp.

Taganito Mining is a subsidiary of Nickel Asia. Sumitomo subsidiary Taganito HPAL will operate the $3-billion project.

Nickel Asia operates nickel mines Rio Tuba, Taganito in Surigao del Norte, Taganaan in Surigao City, and South Dinagat and Cagdianao in northern Mindanao.

"The Sumitomo group is preparing the feasibility study but there was a re-scheduling so it will be completed late this year or early next year," Mr. Cadano told reporters.

The Sumitomo-led venture will employ 4,000 workers during the development phase.

The number of workers, however, will go down to 1,300 during the 30-year operation to extract 150 million wet metric tons of nickel ore. Annual mining operation is estimated to cost $200 million.

The ores will be shipped exclusively to Sumitomo’s refinery in Japan, Mr. Espeleta said.

"By that time [of the operation], prices of nickel might have already increased," Mines bureau Director Horacio C. Ramos said. — Neil Jerome C. Morales, Business World
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Hospital equipment worth 1 Million pesos was turned over by Mayor Alfonso S. Casurra to Caraga Regional Hospital Chief Dr. Ponciano Limcangco, during the conduct of Flag Raising Ceremony and National Flag Day Celebration last May 25, 2009.

hese were donations from Fruitful Harvest – Philippines Inland and Island Ministries thru Pastor Charles Sickles, Dr. Lina Dumale and Mayor Casurra. These consist of hospital beds worth P100,000.00 each and various medical apparatus.

On his speech, Dr. Limcangco expresses deep gratitude to the donors and is hopeful for more donations in the future.

On the same event, Pastors from 7th Day Adventist Church, Eleuterio Prostrero and Noel Gerona; officials from the Adventist Community Services (ACS), Rolu Paular and Jun Galleon; also donated an initial of 28 brand new wheel chairs. Two of which were immediately handed over to two (2) recipients, Victoriano Anastacio, 29 and Edsalin Quirolico, 14. (Flor Pacleb, Information Officer - news and photos from surigaocity.gov.ph)
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Former Gov. Robert Lyndon Barbers in a press conference Wednesday declared his intention to seek the mayoralty post in the coming 2010 general elections under the Abante Surigao party.

"I would like to announce and declare my intention of running as City Mayor of Surigao," Barbers said.

It was also revealed that Board Member Milva P. Garcia will be his Vice-Mayor.

Here's his 8 councilors, majority of them are still in office (city council) pa, mga re-electionist kumbaga:

1. Kag. Jex Bayana
2. Kag. Nilo Aldonza
3. Kag. Carlos Gorgod
4. Kag. Flor Laxa
5. Kag. Floripen Tating
6. Kag. Dodong Lancin
7. Bernardo Pecho
8. Brg. Capt. Bienvenido Zabala


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Mga kabatan-onan gikan sa mga nagkadaiyang lungsod sa tibuok probinsya madasigon nga misalmot sa 1st Gov. Robert Ace Barbers’ Cup nga gibuksan niadtong Mayo 26, 2009 sa Surigao City Gymnasium, diin ila na usab natagamtam ang nagpadayon nga tiunay nga paghatag ni Gov. Barbers sa tinuod nga kalamboan sa sector sa mga kabatan-onan.

Dako ang kalipay ug pasalamat ni Gov. Barbers sa mga misalmot sa maong kalihukan uban ang ilang mga local nga mga opisyales ug pribadong buhatan nga naghatag ug hugot nga suporta sa maong turneyo. Mayor Eddie Gokiangke sa Claver, Mayor Carlos Egay, Sr. sa Gigaquit, Mayor Charry Mangacop sa Placer, Colyn’s Tailoring para sa Tubod Team, Mayor Lycer Fetalvero ug Vice-Mayor Leah Pagobo sa Sison, Mayor Teodoro Senaca sa Malimono, Vice-Mayor Sally B. Plaza sa Tagana-an ug Mayor Simplicia Bacol sa San Francisco.

Didto usab ang presensya sa kaabag sa Gobernador, Vice-Governor Noel Catre nga maoy naghatag sa welcome address, former Gov. Robert Lyndon Barbers ug Mayor Alfonso Casurra nga mihatag usab sa ilang tagsa-tagsa ka mga mainiton nga mensahe. Gipahayag ni Gov. Ace Barbers sa makausa na usab pinaagi sa maong kalihukan, ang mga local nga mga opisyales nagpakita sa usa ka hiniusang pagsuporta alang sa tinuod nga kalamboan ug kaayuhan sa tanan.

Ang migawas nga mananog alang sa Muse of the Tournament 2009 mao ang maanyag nga si Miss Karen Aquino sa Lungsod sa Tubod diin midawat siya sa cash prize nga nagkantidad sa Php 2,500.00 ug usa ka tropeyo u gang mga non-winners midawat usab sa tig usa ka libo ka pesos alang sa consolation prize. (PGO-SdN Media Bureau)

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Walay puas sa pag-implemintar sa buhatan sa Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) sa distrito dos sa mga proyekto ni Kongresista Jun Romarate. Si DPWH District Engineer Linda Uypala nagkanayon natapos na ang ubang proyekto ni Kongresista Jun Romarate sama sa Concreting Road sa Barangay Roxas Lungsod sa Mainit nga nagkantidad ug 500,000.00 ug lakip na niini ang Concreting Road sa Barangay Cabongbongan Surigao City nagkantidad usab ug 1.5 milyon natapos na usab.

Dugang pa ni Uypala ang Concreting sa Barangay Canlanipa nga kantidad ug 1.7 Milyon tapos na usab kini. Ug ang Multi-purpose Building sa Barangay Anislagan Lungsod sa Placer sa kantidad 1.4 Milyon ka pesos tapos na usab kini lakip niini ang Multi-purpose Building sa Lungsod sa Tubod sa kantidad nga 2.5 Milyon tapos na kini. Ug ang Multi-purpose Building sa Barangay Cantugas Lungsod sa Mainit sa kantidad nga 500,000.00 Multi-purpose Building sa Barangay Cantapoy National Highschool sa Lungsod sa Malimono nagkantidad sa 750,000.00 ka pesos ug Mulit-purpose Building sa Barangay Alambique Lungsod sa Gigaquit 50,000.00 pesos ug Multi-purpose Building sa Barangay Capayaan sa Lungsod sa Tubod 1.8 Milyon kauban na niini ang patubig sa Kongresista sa barangay San Isidro Lungsod sa Mainit nagkantidad ug 500,000.00 pesos, Multi-purpose Building sa Barangay Matin-ao Elementary School Lungsod sa Mainit kantidad 600,000.00 pesos. (Ed Mapayo, Surigao Balita)


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An American man and two female "balikbayan" were placed under observation after showing symptoms of the Influenza A (H1N1) virus in an undisclosed hospital in this capital city of the Caraga Region, health officials reported yesterday.

Doctors collected on Saturday "respiratory swabs" from the three patients, whose identities were not disclosed, after they voluntarily submitted themselves to health authorities.

Dr. Florminda Tejano, Department of Health (DoH) Northeastern Mindanao Chief of Regulations, said the patients’ swabs were personally brought by DoH Regional Director Leonita Gorgolon to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa City.

The results would be known on Wednesday, Tejano said.

She said the American male patient hails from Alabama and while the two women are residents of California.

During a news conference yesterday, authorities declined to give further details as to when the three arrived in the country and which Caraga city or town they had visited.

The region is composed of five provinces: Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur.

Tejano said last Saturday, the three developed fever and cough, which are among the symptoms of the virus.

As of press time, contact tracing was being done to locate persons with whom the three had contact with while their family members and relatives were advised to go on self-quarantine, health officials here said.

Tejano said the latest medical bulletin on Tuesday suggested that the body temperature of the two patients had slowly gone down to normal. (TEMPO)

UPDATE: DOH Caraga Reg'l Director Leonita Gorgolon in a radio interview this morning said the swab results of the three patients came out last night and they all tested negative.
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The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Northeastern Mindanao (Caraga Region) have recommended to Environment Secretary Jose L. Atienza Jr. for the imposition of a moratorium in the cutting and transporting of trees in the southern part of Surigao del Sur to give way to the complete rehabilitation of major roads which were damaged by logging trucks and incessant rains.

The move was contained in the report of the DENR before the start of the Caraga Conference for Peace and Development (CCPD) that was presided over by Butuan City Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos at the Bishops Palace in Barangay Ampayon, this city.

Northeastern Mindanao DENR Regional Executive Director Edilberto S. Buiser, who presented a brief report to the CCPD about what the DENR has done in pursuit of its objectives said "all efforts are being done to find practical solutions to stop the relentless cutting of trees inside the timber concession area of the moribund PICOP Resources Inc. (PRI)."

It was learned that Surigao del Sur Gov. Vicente T. Pimentel Jr. made a request to the DENR last May 14 to declare a moratorium on cutting and transport of forest products within the 2nd district of the province to give way for the rehabilitation and construction of roads. (Manila Bulletin)
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Cebu Pacific (CEB) will launch a 3-day seat sale on May 27 to 29, 2009 with fares as low as P588 for domestic and P1,388 for international flights valid for travel from July 1 to August 31, 2009. CEB is allocating more than 200,000 seats for this seat sale.

A one-way ‘Go Lite’ fare of P1,388 is applied for Clark to Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau, and Bangkok; Manila to Bangkok, Guangzhou, Ho Chi Min, Hong Kong, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Macau, Shanghai, Singapore, and Taipei; Cebu to Hong Kong and Singapore.

CEB is offering a P2,288 one-way ‘Go Lite’ fare for its Manila to Incheon (Seoul) and Cebu to Incheon, Busan, and Jakarta services.

“We are optimistic that this seat sale will stimulate domestic and international travel during these traditionally lean months. CEB remains the pioneer in creative pricing strategies as it continues to offer the best travel deals for all travelers to and from the Philippines,” said Candice Iyog, CEB VP for marketing and distribution.

For domestic flights, CEB’s one-way ‘Go Lite’ fare only charges P1,388 all-in for its Manila to General Santos, Davao, Cotabato, Zamboanga, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, and Dipolog; Cebu to Clark and Davao to Iloilo. All other local destinations carry a one-way fare of P588 all-in.

Domestic fares are all-inclusive; international fares are exclusive of government taxes. Promo fares are non-refundable.

‘Go Lite’ fares are for passengers traveling with no check-in baggage. Passengers with check-in bags just have to add P200 to the fare.

CEB, the leading domestic carrier, flies to 14 cities in Asia and 32 domestic destinations with direct flights from Clark, Cebu, Davao, and Manila. It currently has the youngest fleet in the country, comprised of 21 Airbus A320s 8 ATR aircraft. Read rest of story...

Tungod sa dakong pagpakita ni Gob. Barbers sa usa ka tiunay nga pagpangalagad labi na sa pagsiguro sa usa ka himsog nga panglawas dili pa lang dugay, si Gob. Ace nang apud-apud sa kalibo-an ka mga Philhealth cards sa Siargao Islands ug Brgy. Washington.

Matud pa ni Gob. Barbers nga ang programa sa maayung panglawas ubos sa iyang pagdumala kanunay gayud kini niya gihatagan ug dakong prayoridad aron matabangan ang mga katawhan ug dili na sila maglisod sa galastuhan sa pagpatambal labi na sa panahon sa emergency.

Si Gob. Ace Barbers nagtinguha usab nga anaay mga kalidad ug kumpleto nga mga ekwipo ang District Hospitals sa tibuok probinsya. Ang PHO Officer nga si Doc. Audie Relliquette mipahayag nga dako ang kalipay nilang mga doctor sa mga nagkadaiyang kalungsuran nga anaa ang hugot nga suporta ni Gob. Barbers sa tanan nilang mga programa diin niabot karon ang daghan ug mga kalidad nga mga medical equipment nga anaa karon sa Prov’l Health Office diin andam na kini nga ipanghatag sa mga district hospitals sa tibuok probinsya. (PGO-Surigao del Norte Media Bureau)

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The positive gains in the first three months of 2009 have reinforced the 2009 full year targets of One Network Bank (ONB), the largest rural bank in Mindanao.

It is looking to grow its loan portfolio to P8 billion by end 2009 from the P5.9 billion in the end of the first quarter of the year.

Deposits are likewise expected to grow from P5.6 billion after three months into 2009 to P7.8 billion by yearend.

It is looking to expand by 19-percent growth in net earnings for 2009, or from P244 million last year to P288 million.

Total resources amounted to P8.416 billion at the start of April this year, up from the P6.49 billion end 2007.

“ONB remains upbeat for the rest of the year 2009 inspite of the global crisis considering that credit demand is and will continue to remain strong for DepEd Salary Loans and One Banana Program growers loans and the market demand for agri products is expected to remain strong in the agri-based economy of Mindanao and this liquid environment will in turn support the deposit generation targets of ONB Branches especially in the countryside,” 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.

Buenaventura added that another indicator of a resilient Mindanao economy is the sustained growth in total inward foreign remittance volume which reached P79 million in the month of March 2009 as against only P72 million in January and P69 million in February.

“The feared drop in foreign remittances is not being experienced by ONB,” he added.

It is looking to open five more branches this year to reach an unprecedented 80 branches by yearend. It recently opened three new branches located in Surigao City, Dipolog City and Sindangan, Zamboango del Norte.

Complimenting its bricks-and-mortar expansion, is the expansion of its automated teller machine (ATM) network from 83 at the start of the second quarter of 2009 to 118 by December.

Buenaventura in an earlier interview 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 last year represent cash accounts, savings accounts (CASA) deposits which are low cost funds versus only 29 percent in high-cost time deposits,” he said.

Its risk-based capital adequacy ratio still high at 19 percent level, or almost double the 10-percent minimum requirement of the Bangko Sentral ng PIlipinas (BSP).

Stockholders’ equity rose to P1.374 billion, or 17 roughly increase over P1.188 billion of previous year. “Note that steady growth in networth is due to 100 percent stock dividend or plow back policy,” Buenaventura stressed.

Return on private equity (ROE) stood at 27 percent while return on assets (ROA) was registered at 3.23 percent. — Ted Torres, Philstar
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20 displaced Out-of-School and unemployed individuals employed under the Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) of the Department of Trade and Industry are now deployed in different citiesand provinces here in Caraga Region to conduct price monitoring of school supplies.

In an interview with Lorjean Sacote, Chief of the Consumer Welfare Division, iot was learned that these “Price Monitors” were hired by DTI on May 1 primarily to help in price monitoring, giving priorities on the prices of school supplies to check whether manufacturers’ suggested retail prices are reflected by retailers.

Each province according to Sacote has 4 Price Monitors to check 5 establishments per day wherein, every Monday of each week, prices of construction materials are monitored, Tuesdays are set aside to focus on the price monitoring of school supplies, and Wednesdays for basic commodities.

The Price Monitors are being paid 232 pesos per day equivalent to the minimum wage rate in Caraga Region.

To date, prices of school supplies in Caraga Region have been kept at last year’s level.

Barely a month before classes start, and for three weeks now, Consumer Welfare Division chief Sacote said, DTI has been monitoring prices of pad paper for all grade levels, notebooks and pencils and assures the public of a steady supply of school needs.

Part of the intensified price monitoring of basic school needs, DTI also continue to keep an eye of business establishments to put price tags on school supplies and warned them against profiteering. (Jocelyn E. Morano, dxBN-Radyo ng Bayan Butuan/ PIA-Caraga)
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Two time runner-up World Champion Serena Brooke of Australia surfed her way to victory during the recently concluded 3rd Siargao International Women Cup held on May 11 to 14, 2009 at Cloud 9, Brgy. Catangnan, this town.

Brooke surfed away with a hefty US$2,000 check for the win defeating 23 other women tube riders from Australia, China, Japan, United States and some local folks of Siargao, Baler in Quezon, and La Union province.

During the closing ceremony held recently at the town’s boulevard, Brooke thanked the people of Siargao for their hospitality and warm welcome.

The veteran professional surfer made the crowd pleased when she donated half of her prize to the local women surfers of Siargao.

Other winners proclaimed include Philippa Anderson of Australia who finished in second place with US$1,000 prize. Behind Anderson, Erina Tanaguchi and Kim Wooldrige came in third, Brooke Farris, Nildie Rittenbach, Manel Alcala and Daisy Valdez in fifth.

Special awards also include “Highest Filipina Out of the Money” went to Nielvie Blancada, Mocca Edmusa, Michey Galang and Karen Betsayda. Best Wipeout Award went to Misha Luechinger.

The 3rd Siargao International Women Cup is proudly supported by the Provincial Government of Surigao del Norte with support from the Department of Tourism. (PIA)
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In keeping his promise to help the tourism development of the country’s surfing capital, Gov. Robert Ace Barbers turned-over a check amounted to P1.8 million to Gen. Luna Mayor Felipe Espejon during the closing ceremony of the 3rd Siargao International Women Surfing Cup at the town’s boulevard recently.

The said amount according to Gov. Barbers is for the improvement of the street lightings of the boulevard.

“Ato ipa-improve inin ato mga suga sa boulevard hantud didto sa pinakatumoy, Mayor dawata kining tseke nga akong itunol kanimo.(We will improve the streetlights in our boulevard up to its end, accept this check Mayor),” the Governor said.

Mayor Espejon in his reply could not help but thanked the Governor for his generosity.

“Uno may ato ikasulti sa ato gobernador, salamat karajaw Gov. sa ngayan nan mga tawo sa Gen. Luna. (What can we say about our governor, in behalf of the people of Gen. Luna, thank you very much Gov.),” said Mayor Espejon.

Gov. Barbers also revealed that more funds will be given to the LGU of Gen. Luna in the next few months. (PIA)
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The Department of Agrarian Reform thru the Mindanao Sustainable Settlement Area Development (MINSSAD) has turned-over 38 units of dump trucks to 15 municipalities of Regions 10, 11 and the Caraga Region.

Regional Director Datu Yusoph Mama said that the 38 units of dump trucks costing P60 million were turned over to the Local Government Units (LGUs) by agrarian reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman in a simple ceremony held at the DAR Central Office Compound, Km.12 Catalunan Pequeño, Davao City.

He said that 7 of the said units were turned over to the municipalities of Kalilangan and Pangantukan in Bukidnon settlement area.

On the other hand, LGUs composed of Sto. Tomas, Dujali and Laak in Davao del Norte settlement area and LGU of Cateel in Cateel settlement area received 9 units as their maintenance equipment.

He said that the LGUs of Prosperidad, San Francisco, Talacogon, San Luis, Bunawan and Veruela under the Agusan del Sur settlement area were also recipients of 17 units of dumptrucks.

Also included as recipients were the LGUs of Tubajon, Dinagat and San Jose in Dinagat Islands Settlement area which receive 5 units as their own share, said Mama.

Mama said that this is the biggest subcomponent package that were turned over by the MINSSAD in various settlements areas in Mindanao.

He said that this is in line with the equipment support component extended to the LGUs for them to be provided with the equipment to strengthen their operational capability in the operation and maintenance of completed rural infrastructure projects."

According to Mama MINSSAD is a six-year term development project focused in Mindanao conceptualized to address the needs of the beneficiaries in the settlement areas and funded by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC)

The project served as an access to agricultural development programs, rural infrastructure and basic social services, he said. (DAR/PIA)
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At least 70,000 out of Caraga region’s total labor force of 1.045 million are jobless and only 21,000 of them are looking for employment either in the locality or overseas, a report released by the region’s labor and employment office here, said. The region’s economic planners fear more people will lose jobs this year as several big companies, particularly in the mining industry, have reduced their workforce.

Arnie Tangpos, planning officer of Caraga region’s Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) , said the region has a total labor force of 1.045 million with 979,000.
Tangpos added that unemployed persons would now reach 66,000 and this number does not even include those who were retrenched from their work due to the global financial crisis.

According to the National Statistic Office (NSO) here, some 21,000 unemployed persons are “looking” for work through job search in the region. It said that some 1,000 job seekers are registered in private employment agencies while other 1,000 are in public employment offices.

The NSO noted that 7,000 jobs seekers approached directly their prospective employers while 10,000 approached relatives of their friends who have jobs while another 1,000 responded to job advertisements.

Carmencita Cochingco, regional director for the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), earlier said that some 7,000 workers lost their jobs in the first quarter of this year. She said most of the retrenched workers were coming from Chinese-financed mining companies that opted to slow down their operations due to low market price of their products.

Records at the DOLE regional office here show that 23 mining companies, five agro-based plantations, three wood-based industry and two business establishments have opted to slow down their operation and retrenched workers.

Based on the DOLE’s May 2009 report, the DOLE has recorded a total of 3,444 workers who were dismissed from their jobs while the other 2,225 workers were on “flexible work arrangement”. The report added that a total 5,669 overseas’ workers from the two provinces of Agusan and two Surigao had also lost their jobs.

Tangpos, however, said “there’s a brighter spot” in the labor force since most mining firms affected by the global financial crisis have signified to re-hire a total 2,529 employees and open 839 new placements.

Caraga’s Mines and Geo-sciences Bureau (MGB) said 23 medium and large scale mining companies are operating in the region. Of these, eight are in Surigao del Norte, six in Dinagat province, five in Surigao del Sur, four in Agusan del Norte and one in Agusan del Sur, the Philsaga Mining Corporation which is operating a small scale gold mining.

The MGB report said that the mining industry in the region employed a total of 9,291workers in 2008. It said that the government revenue collection, however, dropped to P865 billion in 2008 from P1, 241 billion in 2007.

The region is the largest exporter of minerals in Mindanao, with Japan, China and Australia as its main markets.

In a related development, Aurora Zaportiza, chief of Butuan City’s public employment service office, said some 14 overseas recruitment agencies and local companies participated in the recent ”Mega Jobs Fair” which registered a total of 1,352 applicants.

She said at least 43 applicants were hired on the spot while 1,005 were waiting for further interview and 23 others were qualified to the position they applied for.

Zaportiza added that the TESDA Caraga Regional Office is set to conduct a “Jobs Bridging and Skills Re-training” Caravan on May 29. (Alden Pantaleon/MindaNews/Business Mirror)
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Despite the ongoing economic downturn, low-fare leader Cebu Pacific (CEB), the Philippines’ largest carrier to ASEAN, is in urgent need of 250 female flight attendants to augment its current workforce.

“Our continued domestic and international expansion and rapidly growing passenger base require us to hire and train more cabin attendants. They have to exemplify Cebu Pacific’s fun, reliable, and high-quality service,” CEB vice president for marketing and distribution Candice Iyog said.

Interested female applicants between 18 and 25 years old with good eyesight, a pleasing personality and at least a height of 5’3” and weight proportional to height may apply at the CEB Training and Development Center located at Domestic Road, Pasay City.

Applicants must at least have completed second year college, should be fluent in English and Filipino and willing to be based in Manila, Clark (Pampanga), Cebu and Davao.

CEB requires applicants to submit their resume with a 2x2 ID photo and credentials; and to undergo a series of interview, training, and practical tests.

Screening of applicants is scheduled from 9:00am to 4:00pm on May 20 and 27 for Manila, May 21 in Tuscany Room of Hotel Veniz in Baguio City, and June 3, 10, 17 & 24, 2009 in Manila. CEB applicants must be in business attire, with full make-up, and hair neatly tied.

Iyog concluded, “We encourage young graduates to apply in CEB. We are a young, fun, and service-oriented firm committed to providing high-quality service Filipino travelers across Asia and the Philippines.”

CEB, the country’s leading domestic airline, has a fleet of 10 A319 and 11 A320 Airbus aircraft and eight turbo-prop ATR 72 aircraft. It expects to take delivery of two more ATR aircraft this year allowing it to open more inter-island routes. -Cebu Pacific
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Three passengers were killed and more than 20 others were injured after a bus they were riding went out of control and fell into a canal in Batangas before dawn Saturday.

Superintendent Raul Tacaca, head of the Santo Tomas town police, said the PP Bus Lines (TWS-752) was heading for Manila from Davao City in the southern Philippines.

A report on QTV’s Balitanghali said initial investigation showed the incident occurred at about 2 a.m. at Maharlika Highway, San Vicente village in Santo Tomas town. The bus swerved along the road, colliding with a fruit truck bound for Bicol.

Another report by radio dzRH said police has so far identified only one of the three fatalities. Roma Melba, 20, of a yet unidentified address, was identified through his ID. Along with Melba, another man and a woman were pinned inside the wreckage of the bus.

Seven of the injured passengers were from Surigao del Norte: Odangalan Ravero, 23; Melchor Besas, 39; Bernarde Vicente, 19; Filomeno Roberto, 32; Julius Balukan, 25; Daniel de Calso, 58; Nene Rapol, 24; and Samuel Madlesara, 41.

The twelve other injured passengers were: Rubena Plaza, 52, from Tagum city in Davao del Norte; Rose Ann Clemente, 18, from Surigao del Sur; Ian Cordova, 14, from Cotabato; Mark Rona, 9, from Marikina; Siena Baison, 11, from Caloocan; Peblan Ole, 43, from Sta. Mesa, Manila; Eliane Wong, 57, from Marikina; Helen Temelenyo, 45, from Manila; and from Bulacan were Roger Barba, 47; Sielita Barba, 44; and Cristina Catindig, 53.

The injured, including the driver, were rushed to St. Francis Cabrini Medical Center. Some of them were rushed to Daniel Mercado Medical Center in Tanauan City, Tacaca said.

The bus hit a couple of electric posts before toppling into a canal.

“’Di masyadong mabilis, siguro nakatulog ang driver ... maganda ang panahon (The bus was not speeding and the weather was not stormy. We suspect the driver fell asleep at the wheel)," Tacaca said. - With Katrina Elaine Alba. GMANews.TV
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Green Bank Inc. (A Rural Bank) will be relocating its Dapa branch in this island resort to the more populous market place and port area to accommodate its demanding client base as well as expanding micro-borrowers.

The new branch will be completed by March next year.

The present branch site is servicing at least a thousand bank clients covering the nine municipalities of Del Carmen, Gen Luna, Socorro Burgos, San Isidro, Sta. Monica, San Benito, Pilar, and Dapa.

“It will remain a microfinance-oriented branch,” Ronald B. Cabalan, branch manager told The STAR.

Its loan portfolio reflects that 70 percent are microborrowers while 30 percent are agri, personal, consumer and commercial.

Micro-borrowers range from sari-sari owners, eateries, fisherfolk, drivers/operators, and magbobote.

Cabalan explained that majority of micro-loans are characterized by weekly collections. The minimum amount of a microloan is P3,000.

The Siargao branch of Green Bank has 11 loan officers, with seven devoted to microfinance. Of the seven microfinance ‘specialists’, six have already undergone training with the Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (MABS) program.

The MABS program is run by the United States Agency for International Davelopment (USAID) and the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP), with oversight from the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo).

Cabalan admitted that microfinance is successful in Siargao that it finances a large portion of their investments and banking activities.

Meanwhile, deposits taking continue to grow with its different deposit product including the Lata Savings focused on new savers and children. It merely requires a minimum P100 to open an account, although application of interest rates starts when the account reaches P500. The savings product comes with a passbook and lata (savings can in place of the piggy bank).

There is also Seed Savings, which comes in two variants, the goal data and goal amount. A minimum amount of P100 is also sufficient to open an account.

Green Bank also offers other bank products and services, such as mobile banking, and money transfer for remittances.

Green Bank is a rural bank with 41 branches and 72 kiosks nationwide, and more than P1.6 billion in total resources end of 2006. The bank serves more than 180,000 depositors and more than 60,000 borrowers. Its main thrust is microfinance services, aside from pension, salary, agricultural, commercial, and regular banking products.

Green Bank has been a MABS participating bank since 2000, and has disbursed more than 139,000 microenterprise loans totaling more than P2 billion. – TPT, Philstar
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Tungod sa nahitabo nga paspas nga pagkuyanap sa virus nga AH1N1 sa tibuok kalibutan, si Gov. Robert Ace Barbers mihimo ug lakang pinaagi sa Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council aron nga mapanalipdan ang katawhan sa mao nga sakit.

Niadtong Mayo 15, 2009, ang maong konseho mihimo dayon sa usa ka Task Force diin miduso kini sa ilang Action Plan on Prevention of A(H1N1). Ang ilang mga nakauyunan nga mga paagi mao ang pagdugang ug hatag ug impormasyon o IEC (Information Education Campaign) sa mga katawhan kalabot na sa maong flu virus, ang pag-establisar sa kiosks area nga wala malakip sa syudad sama sa Alegria, Placer, Claver, Del Carmen-Sayak Airport ug Dapa Port, San Benito ug Sta. Monica diin, adto morehistro ug pagcheck-up ang mga nagbyahe nga mga balikbayans ug uban pang mga langyaw. Ang PDCC mopalit usab sa mga ekwipo ug mga gamit nga kinahanglanon sa mga health personnel, pagpangandam sa mga transportasyon ug komunikasyon, ug ang pagmonitor ug pag-evaluate sa mao nga kalihukan. Moabot sa 1M pesos ang budget nga ilang naaprubahan alang sa tanang mga galastuhan sa nahisgutang Action Plan on Prevention of AH1N1.

Dako ang pasalamat sa PDCC Action Officer, Mr. Adolfo Pantilo, Sr. sa gipakita nga suporta ug kooperasyon sa tanang mga nahilambigit nga mga nagkadaiyang mga ahensya sa gobyerno, alang na sa pagpanalipod sa mga katawhan sa tibuok probinsya batok sa pandemic nga AH1N1 virus. (PGO -Surigao del Norte Media Bureau)

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The Sandiganbayan has dismissed the motion filed by Ruben Ecleo Jr., former mayor of San Jose in Surigao del Norte, seeking to overturn his October 2006 conviction on three counts of graft.

In a three-page resolution, the Sandiganbayan First Division said Ecleo simply rehashed old issues and arguments that were previously considered by the court when it convicted him.

“There being no new matter raised in the subject motion for reconsideration, the Court finds no cogent reason to reconsider its resolution. To grant the request is tantamount to reopening these cases which the Court cannot do after its decision therein has long become final," the court said.

Ecleo was held liable for the fraudulent disbursement of government funds used in the construction of a public market, a new municipal building, and a guesthouse. Inspectors found that the public market and the supposed new municipal building were mere “concrete-and-steel skeletons" while the purported guesthouse turned out to be a private structure.

Ecleo was sentenced to 31 years imprisonment while his co-accused, former municipal planning and development coordinator Anadelia Navarra, and private contractor contractor Ricardo Santillano of PBMA Builders were each sentenced to 21 years jailterms.

The former mayor filed his motion for reconsideration after the court junked last February 17, 2009 his motion for new trial.

Ecleo is the son of Surigao del Norte Rep. Glenda Ecleo and is leader of the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (PBMA). He is also facing trial for parricide in Cebu in relation to the death of his wife, Alona Bacolod-Ecleo, whose body was found dumped in a ravine in January 2002 with signs of strangulation. (gmanews.tv)
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SURIGAO CITY – Philippine Ambassador to Germany H.E. Delia Domingo Albert revealed Germany’s assistance to Caraga region aimed at reducing poverty and peace-building.

Speaking before participants of 300 during the holding of 5th Caraga Mining Summit held recently here, HE Albert divulged why they have chosen Caraga region as the center of development aid of Germany, “Why Caraga? As many of you may be aware, the region has been identified with a high incidence of poverty or 53% of the population are poor. Poverty in the German study on the region refers not only to income but also in terms of services and resources and related dimensions measured according to human development indices.”

She said the region is seen to be facing multifaceted conflict with a need for crises-prevention as well as conflict management, transformation and eventual resolution.

Albert revealed that both governments agreed to allocate barely 7 million euros or about P434 million to fund the project known as “COSERAM” meaning “Conflict Sensitive Resource and Asset Management in the Caraga Region.”

The objective of the project according to Albert “is to enable the majority of the local people to benefit economically from the rich natural resources of the region in a responsible, peaceful, and also in a just manner.”

The said project is linked closely and directly to the objectives of the summit which seeks to “adopt best mining practices through strategic partnerships for sustainable and self-reliant mining communities,” Albert added.

Just like any bilateral cooperation project, COSERAM supports the development priorities in the medium-term development plan of the government.

Albert then urged the participants to contribute their share in fulfilling the efforts of a foreign country to help improve the lives of people in Mindanao, especially Caraga whose needs have been carefully identified and assessed.

“If we succeed in this particular project, it may encourage more countries to increase its assistance to a deserving region. Let us make the Caraga region an example of a region able to absorb the goodwill, the trust and the financial support that will go with the project,” she added.

Albert appealed to all Caraganons not waste these golden opportunities being given to the region.

“I believe that with your natural endowments plus good governance, Caraga will have the recipe to make a leap from its current ranking as the second poorest region in the country to take its rightful place in our richly-endowed country,” she concluded. (PIA)
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SIARGAO ISLAND, Surigao del Norte—State-owned Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) has approved the deployment of a total of P9.59 billion for projects under its Road Roll-On, Roll-Off Terminal System (RRTS), president and chief executive officer Reynaldo David said on Thursday

The RRTS is a major component of the DBP’s Sustainable Logistics Development Program (SLDP) that is aimed at modernizing the country’s infrastructure and logistics system for the efficient transport of passengers and basic commodities.

The bank said another 41 projects totaling P5.86 billion were under evaluation.

Of the 20 new or missionary roll, on-roll off (Roro) routes identified by DBP, nine have been made operational through DBP financing, David said. The government aims to establish 49 Roro routes under its Strong Republic Nautical Highway project.

Most notable of these connections is a new route connecting the town of Pasacao in Camarines Sur to the provinces of Masbate and Romblon. The said route, which will be made operational this month, will connect Romblon to the Pan Philippine Highway.

David also said DBP is working on the acquisition of a Roro vessel that will ply the Calbayog, Northern Samar–Kawayan, Biliran, route. This will cut down travel time to Cebu City from Calbayog by more than two hours.

Other pipeline projects under the SLDP include shipyards in General Santos City and Cebu capable of handling 5,000 DWT (deadweight tonnage) and 2,500 DWT vessels, respectively, for a total project cost of P380 million. These shipyards will boost the local shipping industry’s capacity to construct and repair vessels, David said.

David and other key officials of the bank were in Siargao for the kick-off ceremonies for the annual “Ready, Set, Roro!” DBP interisland race, which runs from May 15 to 20.

Now on its fourth year, this outdoor adventure is part of DBP’s efforts to promote greater public awareness on the use of the Roro terminal system.

The event features 10 teams, with each team composed of two members and a celebrity participant battling it out for the P1-million grand prize.

This year’s race will feature hot summer destinations in 11 locations over six days—Siargao, Surigao del Norte, Leyte, Camotes Island, Cebu, Negros Occidental, Iloilo, Aklan, Oriental Mindoro, Batangas and Manila.

“With this activity, we want to show how the Roro has helped small and medium entrepreneurs in the transport of their commodities. We will also show how the tourism sector has benefited from the cheap cost of traveling via the Roro,” David said.

The teams will compete in a series of challenges at specific points along the race route.

After each leg, the team that incurred the lowest score or was last to finish a task will be eliminated, except on predetermined non-elimination legs. Only four teams will advance to the finals that will be held in Manila. (Business Mirror)
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To a first-time visitor, Siargao, the Philippines’ surfing capital, is a study in contrasts.

Passengers disembarking from the port of Dapa after a three-hour ferry ride from mainland Surigao del Norte will immediately notice a cell site looming from a hilltop and dwarfing houses and everything in the vicinity.

A quick tour around Dapa reveals a curious sight: modest, almost decrepit, homes with satellite TV dishes on the roofs.

In General Luna, which can be reached after a long stretch of nothing but fields and forests, is where most of surfing resorts that dot the coast of Siargao facing the Pacific Ocean are located. Here a different kind of surfing is also popular: most of these resorts have signs that read “Wi-Fi available” and “Internet here.”

High-speed, eye-popping broadband Internet is available even on an island farther out into the sea than Siargao itself, an island so bare and devoid of any structure that it’s called Naked Island.

Much has been said about the world-class surfing conditions in Siargao’s famed Cloud 9. Blogs and websites extol the power of its waves and the beauty of its beach. What comes as a pleasant discovery is how such a laid-back setting could have connectivity so tempting, one would be hard-put to throw away trusty gadgets even if one wanted to.

One visitor started sending MMS photos through a Smart Buddy handset at the first sight of the coastline of Dapa from the M/V Josefa. Another made a video call to a friend, someone writing about mangroves, as the boat sailed by Barangay Del Carmen, site of one of the country’s largest mangrove reserves.

Connectivity, cellphones and the Internet, in particular, have transformed Siargao.

Gerard Degan, owner of Sagana Resort and organizer of the annual Siargao international surfing competition, says, “Communication means more exposure to all of Siargao. When we first came here in 1995 there were no cellphones, no TV, and certainly no Internet. There wasn’t even electricity in Cloud 9!”

But with the advent of communications technology, tourism has been “moving forward in leaps and bounds,” he exclaims.

Degan reports that 90 percent of his resort’s bookings are made through his website, www.cloud9surf.com.

Similarly, Lilibeth Pierce gets about 70 percent of inquiries and bookings for her resort, Cherinicole, from its website www.cherinicoleresort.com.

What about the small businesses without the fancy websites?

“We use free sites such as Multiply to promote J-Spot and Siargao in general. We keep in touch with visitors to Siargao through Facebook. We also sell our products on eBay, Alibaba, and 88DB,” says Erika Briones of J-Spot Surf Shop. Her surf shop is a hut with a store offering souvenir shirts and handmade trinkets, a kitchen serving delectable seafood, and space to plop down on and sleep.

Wilmar Melindo and Ronald Sumalinog, sons of Siargao who, as surfing instructors, live to share with hundreds of people the joys of surfing by teaching them the basic skills and making sure they leave the island loving the sport, use the Internet to keep in touch with the friends they have gained from teaching how to surf.

“It is easy to keep our connection with the friends we’ve made over the years, from so many corners of the world. When we organize local surfing competitions, it’s easy to invite them online, whether through e-mail, via Facebook, or chatting on YM. More importantly, it helps them contact us when they need to know when the waves are perfect for them to travel all the way to Siargao,” say Melindo and Sumalinog.

Broadband Internet was introduced in Siargao back in 2008 by Smart Bro, the wireless broadband Internet service offered by Smart subsidiary Smart Broadband Inc.

These days, Smart’s expanded and upgraded network coverage offers the faster “sibling” of 3G — High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA). Siargao is one of the many places in the country with the best, fastest HSPA coverage — or high-speed broadband experience on a mobile device such as a handset or a Smart Bro Prepaid USB modem.

Plugged into a laptop through a quick and painless process, the Smart Bro Prepaid wireless modem connects to Smart’s HSPA network and delivers multimedia downloading and uploading at speeds that could make one forget he or she is “surfing” the Web from an island right smack by the Philippine Deep, wirelessly connecting to the Internet and staying in touch with the rest of the world.

With connectivity this tempting, no wonder many surfing foreigners have chosen to live in Siargao, “surf,” and work from there. (philstar.com)
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I have a dirty little secret: I am still on dial-up Internet at home.

Call it pre-historic, ancient, so ’90s, but I have been on it for years. People cringe when I say I can’t browse YouTube at home because my connection is damn slow. It sounds worse than saying I have a scandal under my name.

I’m probably the only yuppie this side of Manila who survives without DSL, and when my friends hear about it, they say: “May dial-up pa pala?”—after a collective gasp.

Someone even said I shouldn’t even admit I still use dial-up, because it’s so not fashionable.

But, before you judge me, here’s the thing. I am hardly at home, I have a fairly good Internet connection in the office for work stuff, and there’s WiFi for my laptop wherever I go.

My postpaid, pay-per-use dial-up Internet is bundled with my landline. I have been applying for a DSL package since last year, but still haven’t gotten it processed. Apparently, there aren’t too many available providers in my area, which is strange because my place is right smack in the middle of Manila.

So when Smart Communications asked me to road-test Smart Bro prepaid in Siargao, I took the challenge.

It was a liberation of sorts. Effortlessly surfing the Internet amid hot surfers on the sunny island is bliss.

Sunshine land

Siargao in Surigao del Norte is a surfer’s dream. The waves are consistent and there’s hardly any undercurrent. The popular surf site “Cloud 9” has a rocky seabed, but you won’t mind. It’s infinitely better than the other surfing destinations I’ve been to in Luzon, with its rustic surroundings and old-world charm.

Siargao’s beaches have a novelty not found anymore in commercial resorts. The mix of sun, sea, sand and waves calms and soothes.

Throw in the Internet and you’ll be updating your Facebook status every 10 minutes, so that your friends would know how stoked you are, how great the people around you are, how much you don’t want this vacation to end, and how you’re going back to Manila tanned, golden and with hair with natural streaks. Beach babe makeover, Siargao-style.

More affordable

In Siargao, you can either surf the waves or your favorite websites, or both. Siargao is Smart country, with most of the residents relying on Smart Bro for Internet service.

Smart Bro was initially a postpaid wireless Internet service provider, says Althea Aragon, Smart public affairs specialist. But “we have ventured into prepaid to give easier and more affordable Internet connection, especially in far-off places like Siargao.”

“SmartBro covers as far as Ilocos in the North, and Davao down South,” says Smart Siargao engineer Randy Gingoyon.

It’s broadband Internet that runs on Smart’s High-Speed Packet Access Network (HSPA). HSPA is the next best thing after GPRS and 3G. It allows you to access up to 5.8 mbps, which means you can download a song in just a few seconds on a good day.

The Smart Bro prepaid kit contains the basic unit that’s just slightly bigger than a flash disk, and a SIM card with a Smart number packed with five hours of free Internet time. Rates go for P10 for every 30 minutes, and you can reload it as you would your prepaid mobile phone.

The best thing about it? No monthly bills.

“It’s very convenient, especially for students and people on the go. It’s perfect for those who travel a lot but have to stay connected,” says Aragon.

Smart Bro postpaid, meanwhile, comes in different “plans” you can choose from according to your needs.

Instant Internet is perfect for those of us who can’t wean ourselves off our laptops even while in paradise. I have uploaded a video of local skimboarders on YouTube, posted beach pics on Multiply, chatted with my cousin in London via Web cam and showed her the gorgeous Siargao sunset—all while jumping from one island to another.

It was almost surreal having speedy Internet on a tiny island in Mindanao when my cell phone’s signal was flickering on and off.

I fell in love with Siargao, and have vowed to go back there with friends to brave bigger waves. But for now, I have to get my hands on my own Smart Bro kit so I can put my dial-up life in the archives where it belongs. (inquirer.net)
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Bukidnon topped 25 other provinces in Mindanao to have the highest income earned from local revenues in 2007 with P1.295 billion in gross income, making it also the country’s tenth biggest.

Bukidnon is the only province from Mindanao to make it to the Top 10 list, according to the 2007 Financial Statements Highlights of Local Government Units posted in the Commission on Audit website.

The provinces with highest income for 2007 were Bulacan (P1.807 billion), Negros Occidental (P1.674 billion), Cebu (P1.657 billion), Cavite (P1.542 billion), Laguna (P1.487 billion), Pangasinan (P1.482 billion), Batangas (P1.386 billion), Quezon (P1.36 billion), Rizal (P1.361 billion) and Bukidnon (P1.295 billion).

Except for Visayas’ Negros Occidental and Cebu and Central Luzon’s Pangasinan, the rest of the provinces compose Luzon’s elite CALABARZON growth provinces.

Bukidnon’s internal revenue allotment in 2007 was P835.1 million, projected at P904.7 million in 2008, and expected at P1.01 billion in 2009, according to Bukidnon’s Certified Statement of Receipts endorsed by the Local Finance Committee to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in October 2008.

The Local Government Code of 1991 or Republic Act 7160 gives LGUs the power to create their own sources of revenue and to levy taxes, fees or charges which shall accrue exclusively to their treasury.

Davao ranked fifth among cities with the Top 10 highest gross revenues at P3.153 billion. It is the only city from Mindanao on the list. No town from Mindanao made it to the Top 10 list in the municipality category.

The provinces of Camiguin, Dinagat Island, and Siquijor placed second, third, and fourth lowest earner with gross revenues ranging from P182 million to P195 million in 2007.

The cities of El Salvador (Misamis Oriental), Lamitan (Basilan), Tandag (Surigao del Sur), and Cabadbaran (Agusan del Norte), also ranked first, second, third, and fifth among the lowest gross income earners with figures ranging from P55-to P87 million in 2007. They were among six in Mindanao that lost citihood status for failing to comply with the requirements of the law based on a Supreme Court decision late in 2008.

The towns of Mangudadatu, Maguindanao ; Pandag, Maguindanao; Sibutu, Tawi-tawi; Limbaca-Unayan, Lanao del Sur; Burgos, Surigao del Norte were included in the bottom 10 for earning the lowest gross income ranging from P8 to 15 million in 2007.

Bukidnon was also Mindanao’s highest spender in 2007, with P1.213 billion in expenses landing at eighth of the Top 10 highest spending LGUs in the country.

The provinces in the Top 10 spenders were Negros Occidental, Bulacan, Cebu, Cavite, Quezon, Batangas, Laguna, Bukidnon, Pangasinan, and Iloilo.

The provinces of Dinagat Islands, Siquijor, Camiguin, and Basilan were at the Bottom 10 for spending the least in 2007.

Davao City ranked fourth in the Top 10 highest spenders at P2.888 billion.

In 2007, the cities of El Salvador, Tandag, Lamitan, Cabadbaran, and Bayugan were among the Bottom 10 for spending the least, ranging from P55 to P99 million.

Three Maguindanao towns: Pandag, Mangudadatu, and Datu Anggal Midtimbang; Sibutu, Tawi-tawi; and Alegria, Surigao del Norte belonged to the Bottom 10 for spending the least in 2007 ranging from P6 to 13 million only.

Bukidnon, however, did not belong to the Top 10 provinces with highest net income while the cities of Zamboanga and Cagayan de Oro made it to the Top 10 for cities.

The provinces of Zamboanga del Norte and Bukidnon made it to the Top 10 provinces with highest current assets with P802 million and P765 million, respectively.

For the Top 10 highest liabilities, Zamboanga del Sur (P979.84 million) and Zamboanga del Norte (P641.99 million) were included as third and ninth.

The COA’s list of LGU financial statements include balance sheet and statement of income and expenses.

The balance sheet shows the financial condition of local government agencies in terms of assets, liabilities and equity. (Walter I. Balane / MindaNews)
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A MINING venture led by Australia’s Red 5 Ltd. will invest P3.5 billion to start commercial operations in a gold mine in northern Mindanao, company officials said late Tuesday.

The mining permit holder Greenstone Resources Corp. will develop the 2,023.74-hectare Siana gold mine in the town of Mainit in Surigao del Norte, company managing director Greg Edwards said in a presentation to officials of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau last Tuesday

Construction will start before the end of the year after securing funds by June, the mining executive added.

Greenstone Resources is owned by Red 5, Merrill Crowe Corp., and Surigao Holdings and Investment Co.

The Siana gold project can produce 6.69 million metric tons of ore, with an average 5.2 grams of gold per metric ton, and equivalent to 1.122 million ounces of gold and 2.095 ounces of silver.

It is adjacent to the Boyongan copper and gold project of listed Philex Mining Corp., the country’s biggest miner.

"[Red 5] is a publicly listed company in Australia so 30% to 40% of the funds will be sourced from equity and roughly 60% to 70% from borrowings from financial institutions and [from] outside the country," Lolot Manigsaca, Philippine comptroller of Greenstone Resources, said in an interview.

The investment might go up to P5.8 billion to maximize the 12-year mine life. Taxes to be paid to the national and local governments are estimated to reach P6.8833 billion.

Employment will go up to 700 during the development phase and down to 500 during operations. The mine has 90 workers so far.

Mr. Edwards said Greenstone Resources had spent $30 million during the five-year exploration of the Siana mine, which had underground and open pit operations dating back to 1938. — Neil Jerome C. Morales, Business World
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THE MINERAL output of listed Philex Mining Corp. dropped by almost a tenth last month to 648,481 dry metric tons from 705,607 in March, the miner told the Philippines Stock Exchange yesterday.

Philex Mining produced 340,283 grams of gold, 1.330 million kilograms of copper and 333,020 grams of silver worth P767 million, broken down as follows: P475 million for gold, P286 million for copper and P7 million for silver. Last month’s output was slightly down from the P772-million worth of mineral production reported in March. Philex Mining, the country’s biggest miner, has been operating the Sto. Tomas II deposit at Padcal in Tuba, Benguet Province for the last five decades. The Padcal mine — the first underground block cave operation in the region — is expected to be exhausted in less than six years. The company wants to start operations in its Boyongan gold and copper mine in Surigao del Norte by 2014 to sustain operations for up to 20 more years. Philex Mining shares were unchanged at P6 apiece in yesterday’s trading. (Business World)
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Stockholders of Philex Mining Corp. have approved the plan to increase the company’s authorized capital to P8 billion from P5 billion as it prepares to develop its high-grade copper and gold mine in Surigao del Norte.

Based on company estimates, it needs as much as $500 million to develop the Boyongan copper-gold project in Surigao del Norte.

Philex president Walter Brown said the company was able to get the votes needed to push through with the planned increase in capital stock only after “great difficulty.”

“[In the end], there was a meeting of the minds. All stockholders agreed that it’s in the best interest of the company to vote for it,” said Brown, who earlier noted “unusual difficulty” in getting proxies for the special stockholders’ meeting.

“We’re going to be developing our Surigao property so we may need additional money. We don’t know how buoyant the market will be. If the prices go up, we may be able to fund it on our own. But if we need additional investment, then we’ll be able to issue new shares,” Brown said.

Philex assumed full control of the 5,184-hectare mine after acquiring 50-percent equity from Anglo American Exploration.

“We want to be able to do it if we need to. We really don’t need to at the moment, but we need flexibility,” he said.

Brown also said that if Philex would issue new shares, the shares would be issued proportionately to all shareholders.

In the past, the company had asked for a waiver of preemptive rights from existing stockholders but this was opposed by the state-owned Social Security System.

As such, if the group of Manuel V. Pangilinan wanted to buy additional shares, he said he could do that by buying from the open market.

“We won’t issue shares unless we need the cash,” he said.

To date, he said Philex was still sitting on a lot of cash. The cash hoard is estimated at about P10 billion as of end-2008.

Philex to date has 3.88 billion in outstanding shares and a market capitalization of P22.9 billion based on yesterday’s closing price of P5.80 a share. (inquirer.net)
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State-run National Power Corporation (NPC) is seeking the approval of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for the transition supply contracts (TSCs) it inked with distribution utilities (DUs) in the Mindanao grid.

The proposed rate being applied for these contracts is P2.3937 per kilowatt hour (kWh), including a generation charge of P1.9690 per kWh, franchise tax and benefits to host communities charges; and corresponding adjustments to the Generation Rate Adjustment Mechanism (GRAM) charges.

The TSCs, which are aimed at providing market for its generated capacity for the grid, were sealed with Agusan del Norte Electric Cooperative; Agusan del Sur Electric Cooperative; Bukidnon Second Electric Coop; Camiguin Electric Coop; Cotabato Electric Coop; Cotabato Electric Coop-PPALMA Area; Davao del Norte Electric Coop; Davao del Sur Electric Coop; Davao Oriental Electric Coop; Lanao del Norte Electric Coop; Lanao del Sur Electric Coop; Maguindanao Electric Coop; Misamis Occidental I Electric Coop; Misamis Occidental II Electric Coop; Misamis Oriental II Rural Electric Coop; Siargao Electric Coop; South Cotabato I Electric Coop; South Cotabato II Electric Coop; Sultan Kudarat Electric Coop; Surigao del Norte Electric Coop; Surigao del Sur I Electric Coop; Surigao del Sur II Electric Coop; Zamboanga del Norte Electric Coop; Zamboanga del Sur I Electric Coop; and Zamboanga del Sur II Electric Coop.

The state-owned power firm indicated in its filing that “except for the contract of COTELCO-PPALMA area, all other TSCs are merely renewal of the previous ERC-approved contracts.”

NPC prayed to the Commission that it shall be granted provisional authority to implement the TSCs with the concerned DUs in the Mindanao grid. Hearings for the application are scheduled on May 26 and 27 this year.

The contracts provided for a security deposit by the DUs/electric coops that shall be “equivalent to 100 percent of the average monthly power bill during the first year of the contract and shall be updated annually.” The power contracts shall cover supply to the said utilities until August 2011.

It was further provided that “supplier (in this case NPC) may assign or transfer part or all of its rights and obligations in the supply of Contract Energy provided that prior written notice is given to customer 30 days before the actual transfer. (MB)
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Done with priming up, the Department of Energy (DoE) finally opened to public bidding at least 30 coal blocks which it plans to award to qualified bidders under the 2009 Philippine Energy Contracting Round (PECR).

“A total of 30 areas or coal block systems are being offered for this year’s contracting round,” the department specified in its statement to the media.

The DoE said the official opening of the bid round will be June 8 this year, for various blocks in Quezon; Catanduanes; Albay; Sorsogon; Masbate; Cebu; Sebu; Surigao del Norte; Zamboanga del Norte; Surigao del Sur; Zamboanga Sibugay; Agusan del Sur; Sultan Kudarat, Davao Oriental, Sarangani and South Cotabato.

The PECR shifts the mode of contract award for energy resource exploration via a bidding process that enables it to select the best work proposals; in lieu of the traditional first-come, first-served policy that preceded it.
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The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Caraga Regional Office in coordination with TESDA, RTWPB, PESO, OWWA, and the private recruitment companies brought its 2-day services caravan and jobs fair to Surigao City in time with the holding of 5th Caraga Mining Summit, purposely for the workers and dependents in the mining sector which were affected by the global financial crisis (GFC) recently held at Hotel Tavern, Surigao City.

Highlighting the caravan was the advocacy on DOLE's TUPAD and ISLA programs under the Comprehensive Livelihood Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP). The "Tupad" program grants families of displaced workers enough cash to provide them their basic needs until such time their bread winners get another employment, while the "Isla" program gives financial help to fisher folk.

Overseas employment assistance and the release of livelihood assistance to organization members of displaced workers were provided thru OWWA and the private recruitment agencies.

Meanwhile, registration and assessment of workers/dependents who availed the TESDA scholarship were also given priority. Promo diskwento among suppliers of various food and non-food products, and legal assistance for workers' financial claims from their employers were also facilitated by the RTWPB.

Reports from DOLE bared that out of more than 700 who participated in the caravan, 60 family members/dependents of GFC affected workers from Malimono, Surigao del Norte were given livelihood assistance for the implementation of livelihood projects.

116 displaced workers and dependents were registered and assessed for TESDA training/retraining/retooling scholarship. 65 workers were assisted in the legal queries on labor cases and labor standards and enforcement procedures.

It also solicited a total of 2,652 job vacancies from 7 overseas recruitment agencies and 2 local companies who participated in the jobs fair. 269 were registered, 191 were qualified for further interview, and 24 others were hired on the spot.

The said caravan was graced by some local chief executives of the province, heads of DOLE (RCC) agencies and the PESO managers of different municipalities. (PIA-Surigao del Norte/DOLE)
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo cancelled yesterday her trip to Siargao Island in Surigao del Norte due to stormy weather caused by typhoon "Emong" (Chan-Hom).

Inspite of the reported fair weather in Siargao Island, typhoon Emong continues to move towards Northern Luzon with maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kilometers per hour.

Emong has caused intermittent heavy rains in Metro Manila, where the President was supposed to take off this morning for the country’s surfing capital where she was scheduled to formally open the 2nd Siargao International Game Fishing Tournament in Pilar, Siargao Island.

The President’s attendance in the game fishing tournament was to promote Siargao not only as a surfing destination but also as the country’s game-fishing capital.

The President had opened the 1st Siargao Game Fishing Tournament In April last year.

Siargao, off the northeastern part of the Caraga region, first drew national and international attention as a surfing haven.

Although it ranks as one of the five best surfing sites in the world, Siargao Island’s second biggest asset – that of being a game-fishing haven -- has yet to break into the tourist industry’s lexicon of “must-visit” destinations.

Siargao Island’s niche as one of the best surfing sites rides on the crest of its powerful rollers or waves, including the ''Cloud 9,'' which is considered one of the world's top surfing waves.

Moreover, the island's centuries-old eco-system is a rich breeding ground for marine life such as marlins, groupers, rays, octopuses, tuna, crabs and squids.

Siargao Island also boasts of 8,760 hectares of mangroves, the biggest in the country, and a long stretch of coral reefs.

Once fully developed, the province’s tourism industry is seen as a major factor in uplifting the lives of the people.

The Arroyo administration has tapped the top dollar-earning tourist industry as one of the sectors that could greatly contribute to jobs-creation.

The President has ordered a surge in infrastructure, including tourism infrastructure, as a firewall to the slowing down of the global economy and as a springboard of the Philippines to First World economy.

Siargao Island has been included in the President's development of central Philippines as ''tourism center'' in her super regions economic plan.
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PILAR, Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte – Encouraged by the enthusiastic reception by international and local anglers who participated in last year’s game fishing tournament here, this town’s local government has decided to promote Siargao Island as Asia’s game fishing capital.

Pilar town has slated its 2nd Siargao Game Fishing Tournament here on Thursday, May 7, 2009 with no less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo formally opening the tournament by flinging a baited fishing hook tied by line to a fishing rod into the Siargao Island waters.

The President will personally visit Siargao for the special event.

In keeping with her directive for the development and promotion of Central Philippines and part of Mindanao as ''tourism center'' in accordance with her super regions economic development strategy, President Arroyo last year joined Siargao island folks in launching their First Siargao Game Fishing Tournament.

The sea fishing derby is designed to establish and promote Siargao Island not only as a game fishing capital for local and international anglers but also as a favorite tourism destination and surfing paradise.

The second edition of the tournament is expected to make Siargao Island break into the tourist industry’s lexicon of “must visit” destinations not only for its beaches and surf sites but for game fishing as well.

Organizers of the event have expressed confidence the participants in this year’s event will double as more foreign anglers from Australia, Canada, Malaysia, Russia, Taiwan, the United States and other countries have already signified their eagerness to join the game fishing tournament.

Surigao del Norte 1st District Rep. Francisco T. Matugas, the “Father”
of the big fishing tourney, said the event is expected to again put the Philippines in the world map as an important and notable international game fishing venue.

He said the tournament will further boost the island’s tourism industry with its inviting world class “Cloud Nine” surfing sites and the largest mangrove forest plantation in the country with 8,760 hectares, pristine white sand beaches, and tropical marine life-rich coral reefs.

“Once fully developed, the Siargao tourism industry will be a major
contributor to the economy and will help uplift the lives of the people of Surigao del Norte,” stressed Matugas, who is also a former governor of his province.

Various infrastructure projects worth over P400 million, including roads, and airport development, are ongoing to make the scenic Siargao island more accessible to both domestic and foreign tourists.

Joining the President for the Thursday event are Tourism Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, and local leaders led by Matugas, and Pilar Mayor Lucio Gonzales.

Aside from the game fishing tournament, the regional offices of the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE-13) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda-13) will hold a jobs fair and distribute scholarship vouchers, respectively, to assist displaced workers and residents of the province to find suitable jobs.
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Pilar, Surigao del Norte (6 May) - Preparations are now in full swing for the three-day 2nd International Game Fishing Tournament which will be held on May 7-9, 2009 in Pilar town in the island of Siargao in Surigao del Norte with no less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as the guest of honor.

Organizers of the tournament bared that the President is arriving here on Thursday morning, May 7 to formally open the international game fishing competition at Barangay Centro, this municipality.

The President will do the symbolic throwing of fishing rod in the waters of Siargao signifying the official opening of the competition.

Joining the President is the CORD of Caraga and Tourism Sec. Joseph Ace Durano.

Cong. Francisco Matugas, 1st district representative confirmed in a radio interview recently that some 65 foreign and local anglers have already made their commitment to participate the said event from nine (9) countries including Russia, Japan, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, United States, Taiwan, People´s Republic of China (PROC) and host Philippines with major sports fishing enthusiasts such as the Philippine Game Fishing Federation, Philippine Sports Fishing Club, Silver Jack and the Cebu Anglers .

Matugas expressed optimism as founder of the tournament that this international event will once again put the country in the map as an important international Game Fishing venue and will boost the island´s tourism industry. Already, Siargao features the world class surfing destination “Cloud Nine”, the largest mangrove forest in the country covering some 8,670 hectares and the tropical marine life-rich coral reefs and natural rock formations.

The President´s support for the local government efforts paved the way for the improvement of the Siargao Airport (now with Cebu Pacific flights), concreting of the Siargao Circumferential Road, the P10 M Level III Water System Development through the President´s Social Fund and funds for transport cooperatives.

Last year, the President also opened the 1st Siargao Invitational Game Fishing Tournament, also in this town. (PIA-Surigao del Norte)
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Some of you may wonder what the Philippine ambassador to Germany is doing in this “summit.” Let me give you three good reasons:

Firstly, when I was secretary of foreign affairs from 2003-2004, I encouraged Filipino diplomats to be relevant to national development through active economic diplomacy. One of the areas of bilateral and economic cooperation, especially with so-called “donor countries” is to participate in the discussions on development cooperation which is a tool of foreign policy.

Two years ago, as ambassador to Germany, I participated in the discussions which chose the Caraga region to be the focus for German development program aimed at poverty reduction and peace-building.

You may ask, “Why Caraga?” As many of you may be aware, the region has been identified with a high incidence of poverty or 53% of the population are poor. Poverty in the German study on the region refers not only to income but also in terms of services and resources and related dimensions measured according to human development indices. Moreover, the region is seen to be facing multifaceted conflict with a need for crises-prevention as well as conflict management, transformation and eventual resolution.

In March this year, both governments agreed to allocate up to 7 million Euros or about P434 million to fund the project known as “COSERAM” meaning “Conflict Sensitive Resource and Asset Management in the Caraga Region”.

The objective of the project is to enable the majority of the local people to benefit economically from the rich natural resources of the region in a responsible, peaceful, and also in a just manner. This project agenda is therefore linked closely and directly to the objectives of this conference which seeks to “adopt best mining practices through strategic partnerships for sustainable and self-reliant mining communities.

Mining

The core components of the COSERAM program include the following:

1. Efficient management of natural resources, namely, land, forest, aquatic and mineral resources since the region has historically been dependent on natural resource extraction.
I am reminded of the famous 14th century Agusan Gold Image which confirms that gold mining has a long tradition in this region. Moreover, the current exhibition on pre-Spanish gold culture of Surigao currently exhibited at the Ayala Museum attests to the rich natural resources as well as the artistry of the people of this region.
2. Building capacities of local governments, particularly in managing assets and providing services in an efficient and effective way.
3. Addressing conflicts peacefully and inclusively.

Let me underscore however that, like all bilateral cooperation projects, the COSERAM supports the development priorities of the Philippine government as identified in the medium-term plan.

Moreover, in implementing the projects, it was agreed that both sides cooperate closely to ensure transparency, accountability and probity in the use of public resources and above all, to eliminate any opportunity for corrupt practices to exist.

Create wealth

Germany is the third largest development cooperation partner of the Philippines. I therefore ask the people of Caraga and all those who will be involved in the various projects to be funded by both governments to ensure that the dignity and credibility of the Philippines as a recipient of German public funds be upheld at all times.

I am here therefore to encourage you to contribute your share in fulfilling the efforts of a foreign country to help us improve the lives of our countrymen in Mindanao, especially Caraga whose needs have been carefully identified and assessed. If we succeed in this particular project, it may encourage more countries to increase its assistance to a deserving region. Let us make the Caraga region an example of a region able to absorb the goodwill, the trust and the financial support that will go with the project.

Secondly, the reason I readily accepted to participate in this conference is to be able to convey to you the President’s policy, similar to that taken by Nelson Mandela of South Africa, that in order to address poverty, it is imperative to create wealth from the country’s resources. The development of South Africa’s resources has contributed immensely to that country’s development.

Today, South Africa prides itself as Africa’s best performing economy. It has even gained world recognition to host the next Football World Cup championship games. Chile is another example of a country that has utilized its resources for the greater good of many of its people. Copper prices which reached historical peaks enabled Chile to pay off its debts.

I hope that this great opportunity may offer Caraga the break it needs.

Thirdly, based on my seven-year experience as ambassador to Australia and learning about the management of the Australian mining industry, the President appointed me as her special envoy to assist the government in revitalizing and promoting the mining industry. To implement her instructions, I initiated the creation of a Minerals Development Council to address the multi-faceted challenges which hindered the responsible development of the country’s rich mineral resources. The Council was conceived as a “one-stop-shop” to ensure efficient and transparent management of the mining industry and achieve the twin objectives of revitalization and promotion of the mining industry as embodied in Executive Order No. 469 creating the Minerals Development Council.

Watchdogs

The Philippines’ current actions in the extractive industry are being closely monitored by such international “watch-dogs” as Transparency International and its daughter agency, the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) which have been initiated in Germany.

The assessment by these organizations of our current practices find their way as basis for our qualification to access such major development funds as the Millennium Challenge Account. While the Philippines has reached the threshold step, we still need to ensure that the industry is not infected by corrupt practices. The world is closely watching.

Let’s not, therefore, waste these golden opportunities being given to us here in Caraga.

I believe that with your natural endowments plus good governance, Caraga will have the recipe to make a leap from its current ranking as the second poorest region in the country to take its rightful place in our richly-endowed country. (Newsbreak)

These are excerpts from the remarks of H.E. Ambassador Delia Domingo Albert at the 5th Caraga Mining Summit in Surigao City held in April 2009.
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Born on September 20, 1939 to poor parents in the backwaters of Barangay Pamosaingan, Socorro, Surigao del Norte, Felix Alatraca saw the light of day in dire surroundings. Due to poverty and inaccessibility of their school at that time, and fresh from the ruins of World war II, Nong Eling as he is fondly called, only reached Grade III.

In 1963 he got married to Florida Comon, a native of Barangay Esperanza, Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte, where he now permanently resides. The quaint, little village of Esperanza is part of the ESLA ARC where the full implementation of Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program [CARP’s] support services delivery is yet to be realized.
In 1987 the DAR awarded him with the following landholdings: EP # 053972-74 lot 1742-A, 1742-C and 1742-D which has a total area of 1.1171 hectares and A-010961 lot 1746-A with an area of 2.9274 hectares. Total area of the four lots is four hectares.

These patches of land became a field of dream coming true for Nong Eling because he is now transformed into a new landowner. Encouraged by this blessing, he doubled his efforts in making the land productive. His 4-hectare awarded land yielded a total of 180 cavans of rice per year for 2 cropping seasons. However, since the land is not irrigated, after harvesting the rice and the land is now dry and suited for other crops, Nong Eling planted it with corn. With this, he is able to harvest 10 sacks of corn every harvesting time.

Every year, there were an increase of 20 % Nong Eling’s income from rice and corn production amounting to Php 176,250.00 and deducted with operating expenses amounted to Php 43,750.00 he earns a net income of P132,500.00. His desire for progress did not stop with the money on hand, because he used it in making the land more productive. To rationalized the farm production cost, he bought farm implements such as mechanized turtle to make the land preparation easier, post harvest facilities such as thresher and “sulpot” to ensure that harvest would be immediately threshed out . He was also raising livestock such as: (carabaos, cows and pigs) and poultry (chickens and geese) to augment household income.

As the saying goes, “when it rains it really pours”, because at this time, the wife of Nong Eling had inherited 1 ¼ hectares of coconut land from her parents. It would mean additional net income for the family in the amount of P19,556.40 per year. But the desire for progress remains enkindled in the heart of Nong Eling and his wife by enabling to earn an extra income of P1,000.00 per month from vending assorted foods and delicacies. Consequently, spouses have an accumulated income of 187,156.00 for the whole year.

The following computation are as follows:

WET/RAINY SEASON:

1. 4 HECTARES RICELAND, 2 CROPPINGS
COMPUTATION PER HECTARE

Gross Sales [ 40 to 50 cavans] assumed at 45 cavans per hectare

Item Qty. Unit of Measurement Unit Price Amount
Gross Income:
45 cavans 2250 Kls. 13.20/kl 29,700.00
Less: Expenses
Good seeds 50 kls 15.00/kl. 750.00
Labor Pakyaw system ibot,semilya & planting 5 JO 1,500.00 7,000.00
Labor Harvesting 5 JO 1,250.00 6,250.00
Total Expenses 14,000.00
Net Income from Rice Production/ hectare/cropping 15,700.00
Net Income from Production 4 hectare per cropping Php 62,800.00

DRY SEASON
2. 1 HECTARE OF CORN PRODUCTION PER YEAR

Item Qty Unit of Measurement Unit Price Amount
Gross Income:
10 sacks Milled Corn 500 Kls. 10.00/kl. 10,000.00
Less: Expenses
Cost Corn Milling 500 Kls. 2.50/kl. 1,250.00
Transportation Cost 500.00
Total Expenses 1,750.00

Net Income from Corn Production/year PHP 8,250.00

3. 1 ½ HECTARE OF CAMOTE PRODUCTION PER YEAR

Item Qty. Unit of Measurement Unit Price Amount
Gross Income:
50 sacks of Camote 2,500 Kls. 10.00/kl. 10,000.00
Less: Expenses
Transportation Cost 500.00
Labor Cost 2,000.00
Total Expenses 2,500.00
Net Income from Camote Production/year Php22,500.00

4. 1 ¼ INHERITED COCONUT LAND
Item Qty. Unit of Measurement Unit Price Amount
Gross Income:
COPRA 328.125 Kls. 21.30/kl. 6,989.10
Less: Expenses
Labor Cost 1,800.00
Transportation Cost 300.00
Total Expenses 2,100.00
Net Income from COPRA /harvest 4,889.10
Net Income from COPRA/year Php19,556.40

5. PIG PRODUCTION

Item Qty. Unit of Measurement Unit Price Amount
Gross Income:
Sow 4 heads 6,000.00 24,000.00
Piglets 10 heads 1,500.00 15,000.00
Less: Expenses
Commercial Feeds 10 sacks 900.00/sack 9,000.00
Rice Bran 5 sacks 200.00/sack 1,000.00
Total Expenses 10,000.00
Net Income from Sow/Piglets/year Php29,000.00

As a proof of his diligence and industry, he was able to sent his nine children to school. Two of his children are now with the DAR as Agrarian Reform Program Technologists, one is a criminology graduate, another is connected with Department of National Defense, while the other five finished Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. No small feat for a Grade School farmer.

In thanksgiving for the blessings given him by Divine Providence, Nong Eling continually strives to gain new knowledge especially if it pertains to increasing farm productivity. He applied all his learnings from the various training programs he had attended concerning the enhancement of productivity income.

He is also a born leader.

Way back in the 70’s and 80’s, he had been the President of the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association of Siargao Island, a federation of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association (ARBA) covering 9 municipalities. Unfortunately, the ARBA was dismantled by the DAR as an assisted organization with the advent of CARP. With this, he became the Barangay Agrarian Reform Committee (BARC) Chairman in his barangay in 1989 to 1992, when it was organized by DAR throughout the country. He was a former Vice Chairman of Esperanza Farmers Credit Cooperative (ESFARCRECO), a DAR assisted cooperative. For his unselfish and untiring dedication and support for the success of the agrarian Reform Program, he was given a plaque of recognition by the Department in 1984.

Nong Eling, now already 69 years old, has reminiscences of the time when he dreamed to have a piece of land he can call his own. Now, he can say that success does not depend on how others can help you but it depends on how your indolent hands do for you. (Melencio C. Migullas,Jr., DAR-Province of Surigao del Norte)

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