The exodus of administration allies to the opposition camp has begun in a key province in the south.

Surigao Del Norte Governor Robert Ace Barbers, a stalwart of the old Lakas-CMD party, on Tuesday led more than 200 local officials in defecting to the Nacionalista Party, a move cheered by a crowd of 25,000 Surigaonons.

Senator Manuel Villar Jr., NP president, swore in Barbers, his brother Robert Lyndon, a former governor who is seeking the Surigao City mayoral seat in 2010, Mayor Alfonso Casurra and congressional bet Constantino “Banjo” Navarro III as the newest members of the country’s oldest political party.

“I deeply value your support, which comes at a time when strong partners are needed in helping rebuild the lives and restore the hopes of our people lashed by calamities,” said Villar, who was mobbed by the crowd soon after he arrived at the sprawling provincial sports complex at 10 a.m.

Villar worked the crowd after the oath-taking, causing a security nightmare to his security detail as he climbed the grandstand to shake the hands of the adoring crowd.

There was shoving and pushing as people jostled each other to get near Villar, who gamely posed for pictures all throughout his three-and-a-half-hour stay in the city. Surigao del Norte, home to renowned surfing island of Siargao, is a gateway to the Caraga region which has combined votes of over a million.

Ace Barbers told the Inquirer this signaled what he described as an “exodus” of administration allies into NP, which will field Villar as its standard-bearer in the 2010 polls.

“This is the start of the exodus of leaders from Mindanao who believe in the leadership of Manny Villar,” said the governor, who presides over an administration turf with 300,000 voters.

Villar said in an interview later that the defection showed that local officials believed in the vision of the NP.

“They agree that poverty is our biggest problem now in our country, and they believe in my capacity to solve this problem,” said Villar, pointing to an efficient, transparent and accountable government as key to solving the twin evils of poverty and hunger.

Wearing white t-shirts, the Surigaonons turned up in full force for the oath-taking ceremony.

Lyndon Barbers said he was surprised by the crowd turnout, saying local officials merely asked the Surigaonons to wear white—representing “purity” of leadership—if they believed in Villar.

Six mayors, seven vice mayors, provincial and municipal board members and barangay officials, many of whom are members of the local party Abante Surigao, also took their oath of allegiance to the NP in what Villar aides claimed was the biggest mass defection so far to the Villar camp.

Villar was accompanied by NP spokespersons, former Pampanga Rep. Juan Pablo “Rimpy” Bondoc and lawyer Adel Tamano, a native of Mindanao who is strongly pushing for Mindanao representation in national political scene.

Before the oath-taking, Ace Barbers said he had obtained the permission of former Speaker Jose de Venecia and former President Fidel Ramos who co-founded Lakas-CMD.

De Venecia is himself supportive of Villar’s candidacy.

An official of NP who asked not to be identified by name as he was not authorized to make the announcement, claimed that former Sen. Ralph Recto was just waiting for the right time to join the NP as well.

“Expect more to follow,” said Barbers, who was chair of the influential House committee on accounts when he was still congressman.

Barbers, a member of the now disbanded “Spice Boys” in the House of Representatives, had entertained the idea of running for senator in 2007 following the death of his father, Sen. Robert “Bobby” Barbers, but postponed it amid a widespread clamor from Surigaonons for him to continue serving his provincemates.

Lyndon Barbers said local leaders resented the decision of the new Lakas-Kampi-CMD leadership to strip party stalwarts who lost in the 2007 polls of their positions in the merged party.

“So we did not go along with the merger,” said Lyndon, explaining the impossibility of political mergers at the local level.

“Imagine Mayor Duterte and Speaker Nograles, will they join forces? In Cebu, will the Garcias and Osmeñas unite? I don’t think so..." said the former governor. (Michael Lim Ubac, inquirer.net)
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On September 24, 2009 around 7:00 in the evening at Barangay Mabua, Surigao City, Surigao City Police Station (SCPS) personnel apprehended a certain Gil Tabilin Biancaflor, 44 years old, married, a businessman residing at Purok-2 Barangay Mabua, Surigao City for Illegal Discharge of Firearm based on the complaint of Mrs Pelgin Bolosa West also a resident of the same place.

Initial investigation conducted to the complainant disclosed that she (complainant) heard three consecutive burst of gunfire after which she saw the suspect went inside her Videoke store and drink with his cohorts inside. In the course of the investigation, PFC Milky Luza Espere, 24 years old, single, a member of the Phil Marine Battalion assigned at 2ND Marine Battalion stationed at Tawi-tawi, Jolo, Sulu and a resident of Barangay Danao, Surigao City turned-over the involved firearm one unit of caliber.45 pistol COLT MK IV series 70 with serial no. 850617 with five live ammos.

Recovered from the scene were two fired empty shells of same caliber. Biancaflor was brought to SCPS for documentation while an inquest Case in Violation of Art 2545 of RPC (Illegal Discharge of Firearm) was being prepared.

Same case was already filed before the City Prosecutor's Office against Gil Tabilin Biancaflor docketed under NPS-XIII-O5-INQ-O91-OO235.
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Sanggunian Bayan members of Libjo, Dinagat Islands, Hon. Rogelio Magpatoc and Hon. Francisco Areglo reported to Libjo Municipal Police Station that on September 24, 2009 around 5:00 o'clock in the afternoon, they were able to confiscate abandoned sawn lumber at Sitio Villa Consolacion, Barangay San Jose, Libjo, Dinagat Islands.

Said confiscated lumber were 161 pieces in assorted sizes with an estimated volume of 1,800 board feet, and was properly turned-over to PENRO personnel, Benjamin Besin for proper disposition. (PNP)
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Nasangad sa Basul Island sa Surigao City ang cargo vessel nga MV Bayang nga gikargahan og mga puthaw gikan sa Cebu City human nga wala makita sa crews ang isla nga ila untang posibleng dungguan pasado alas-2:30 ning mi-aging kaadlawon.

Sigon ni Senior Chief Petty Officer Vivencio Dionaldo sa Philippine Coast Guard-Surigao City, base sa asuy ni Kapitan Cresencio Prado, ang maong cargo vessel duna’y kinatibuk-ang 20 ka mga tripolante.

Wala matud pa’y angayang kabalak-an sa ilang kahimtang tungod kay nagkinahanglan lang sila og taub aron guyuron ang barko sa makalawig na kini og balik. (Bombo Radyo)
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The Siargao airport in Surigao del Norte is nearing completion after failing to open in the first quarter of this year, the Transportation and Communications department said.

The P197-million airport rehabilitation project included the runway’s extension to accommodate bigger aircraft. Transportation Secretary Leandro R. Mendoza said once reopened, the airport will be able to service flights direct from Manila in addition to its present Cebu link.

At present, tourists going to the island have to come from several drop-off points due to the lack of daily flights. Improvements in the airport have been undertaken since 2005, but only the apron expansion and taxiway have so far been completed. The turnaround pad, security fence and parking area costing P29.82 million are due for completion in December. (Business World)
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Malipayon ug madasigong gibutyag ni Gov. Ace Barbers uban sa hugot nga suporta nga gihatag usab sa buhatan sa Provincial Tourism Office nga andam na ang probinsya sa laing dakong kalihukan na usab nga pagahimuon dinhi sa atong probinsya, partikular na diha sa Lungsod sa Gen. Luna nga mao kining 15th Sirgao International Surfing Cup nga pagabuksan karong Oktubre 20 ug kini molungtad hangtud sa Oktubre 27, 2009.

Ubay-ubay na nga mga kalihukan ang giandam sa Provincial Tourism Office ubos na sa pagdumala sa Provincial Tourism Officer niini nga si Mr. Arturo Cruje. Gikalipay usab sa maong buhatan ang mga kompirmasyon nga ilang nadawat sa mga giimbitar nga mga bisita gikan sa kauluhan hilabi na sa mga bisita nga nanukad pa gikan sa gawas sa nasud.

Dako ug ubay-ubay na usab ang preparasyon nga gihimo sa local government unit sa maong lungsod pinaagi na sa maabtik nga Municipal Mayor niini nga si Hon. Felipe “Ping” Espejon. Matud pa sa Mayor, dako ang iyang pasalamat ngadto kang Gov. Ace Barbers sa dakong tabang nga naihatag niini sa Lungsod sa Gen. Luna hilabi na ngadto sa mga lungsuranon. Tungod sa mga paningkamot sa Gobernador nga maila ang ilang lungsod sa ilang daghan nga mga tourism destinations, kini nakapadani sa mga bisita nga moadto sa ilang lungsod nga maoy nakapausbaw sa ilang panudlanan.

Gi-awhag ni Gov. Barbers ang katawhang Surigaonon nga sa makausa pa, gikinahanglan na usab ang ilang tiunay ug hugot nga suporta niining laing talagsaong kalihukan sama sa ilang suporta nga gipakita sa niaging Bonok-Bonok Maradjaw Karadjaw Festival. Gilauman sa batan-ong Gobernador nga magmalampuson ang ika-15 nga Siargao International Surfing Cup tungod mamahimo na usab kini nga laing kalambo-an sa Probinsya sa Surigao del Norte nga angay lamang gayud ipasigarbo ngadto sa uban. (PGO-Media Bureau)
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Sa makausa pa, mapagarbuhon na usab ang mga Surigaonon diin nahiapil na usab ang probinsya sa Surigao del Norte sa usa sa mga ruta nga paga agihan sa mga batikan ug bantugan nga mga adbenturista sa kayak, nga gitawag nga Friendship Kayak Expedition.

Niadtong Setyembre 23, midangat ang maong grupo sa Hayanggabon Port ug sa misunod nga adlaw, Setyembre 24, sila mipaingon na usab sa Sohoton Cove, usa sa mga maanindot nga tourist spots dinhi sa probinsya. Ug karong adlaw nga Sabado, Setyembre 26, sila gi schedule alang sa usa ka Press Conference sa pagkagabii nga pagahimuon didto sa Hotel Tavern. Ug sa Setyembre 27, mobiya ang Kayak Expedition sa Lipata Ferry Terminal paingon na usab sa Southern Leyte.

Malipayon ug mapagarbuhon si Gov. Ace Barbers nga gipili sa maong grupo ang probinsya sa Surigao del Norte isip usa sa ilang mga ruta sa ilang gipahigayon nga kayaking dinhi sa tibuok nasud. Dugang pa niini, iya usab nga gibutyag nga ang maong talagsaong higayon, nakahatag ug dakong tabang sa pagpaugmad sa atong turismo. Pinaagi sa pagpakita sa kaanyag sa atong probinsya sa mga telebisyon ug mga nagkalain-laing websites, dili layo nga maila na usab ang atong lalawigan sa tibuok kalibutan. (PGO-Media Bureau)
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PNP personnel of Placer Municipal Police Station led by PSI Alejandro Galido Recimo, Chief of Police, arrested one Sammy Hora Parnada, 38 years old, single and a resident of Barangay Sani-Sani, Placer, Surigao del Norte on September 21, 2009 at around 10:00 o'clock in the evening at the above-mentioned place.

Suspect was arrested by virtue of Warrant of Arrest (WOA) issued by Hon. Florifinas Buyser, Presiding Judge, RTC Branch 30, Surigao City, charged for Attempted Rape docketed under criminal case number 7730 with recommended bail bond of One Hundred Twenty Thousand Pesos (P120,000.00).

Said suspect is listed as number five most wanted person in Placer, Surigao del Norte. Arrested suspect was immediate turned over to the issuing court and further committed to Provincial Jail.

Also, on September 22, 2009 at around 3:20 in the afternoon, at Barangay Bioto, Tandag, Surigao del Sur, one Jolan Molato Manuong, 30 years old, married and a resident of Sitio Nangka, of the above-mentioned Barangay was arrested by personnel of Tandag Police Station led by SPO2 Loreto Suarez. by virtue of Warrant of Arrest issued by Hon. Vicente Luna, Presiding Judge of RTC 11th Judicial Region, Branch 40, Tandag, Surigao del Sur for the crime of Rape docketed under criminal case number 5099 with no bail bond recommended.

Arrested person is now under the custody of Tandag Police Station for proper disposition. (PNP)
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There are a total of 15 million illiterate Filipinos, 11 million of them suffering from functional illiteracy and four million suffering from no basic literacy skills.

The Civil Society Network for Education Reforms (E-Net Philippines) bared this Thursday after discovering the alarming number through a survey conducted by the Functional Literacy, Education, and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS). The organization is now urging the government to focus more resources on addressing the issue by strengthening the alternative learning system (ALS).

What’s more alarming is that E-Net Philippines expects the numbers to increase in the coming years.

“We expect the illiteracy rate to further increase as more children were unable to go to school due to various factors such as economic hardship and with those already in school dropping out,” said Edicio de la Torre, E-Net Philippines president.

The Department of Education (DepEd) defines functional literacy as having the capability to solve such issues as problem solving and communication while basic literacy means having such simple skills as being able to read and write.

De la Torre and other education specialists from E-Net Philippines and its partner organizations said if left unaddressed, the problem might hamper the country's effort to meet all the goals under the Education For All (EFA) 2015 set by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Last April, a literacy mapping of 5th and 6th class municipalities conducted by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) proved the general sentiment that while literacy programs have been conducted by the government in some areas, the presence or impact of these programs are not felt.

“There were a number of barangays in the bottom 30 where the literacy services of the government agencies like DepEd had not been felt,” said DILG assistant division chief Virginia Ferrer.

Ferrer also said that the literacy programs are currently not among the priorities of some local government units, adding that fifth and sixth class municipalities, the country’s most economically backward areas, also have the highest number of illiterates.

Ferrer stressed that the condition may continue to worsen if the government, particularly the LGUs in these municipalities, will not do something to address the problem.

The bottom 30 barangays with lowest literacy rates were located in the provinces of Abra, Benguet, Kalinga, Mountain Province, La Union, Batanes, Isabela, Laguna, Quezon, Albay, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Iloilo, Bohol, Cebu, Siquijor, Leyte, Samar, Zamboanga del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, and Surigao del Norte. (manila bulletin)
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When the Armed Forces of the Philippines launched in recent months military operations in the Caraga region that led to the displacement of thousands of Lumad residents, officials defended it as part of their campaign to defeat the communist movement by 2010.

But a closer look revealed that, far from a counter-insurgency operation, the massive militarization and dislocation of communities had more to do with protecting business interests — primarily mining investments — in the Caraga region. Human-rights group say this is done at the expense of residents, especially the indigenous tribes that live in the areas affected by these investments.

Although there is nothing particularly new in all this, the Arroyo regime had actually taken the extra step to ensure that the military would act as veritable security guards of these companies, in effect signaling to investors, especially those in the extractive industries that tend to displace locals, that their interests would be protected by the might of the state.

In February last year, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced the creation of the Investment Defense Force (IDF), a special unit of the AFP tasked to safeguard mining operations and investments. The IDF’s function, according to Arroyo, is that of a “protective shield” for power and mining facilities.

During a visit to Siargao, Surigao del Norte, in April 2008, Arroyo emphasized the importance of the IDF. She told reporters that she had ordered an increase in military deployment in Caraga for the protection of mining companies.

“I asked the military to post military units…the Investment Defense Force that would not only secure the mining companies but also do civic actions in coordination with the local government,” Arroyo had said. “Mining investments must be protected as they contribute much to government coffers and create new jobs.”

The latter claim might be true in some respect but there is no denying the toll these investments have taken on local residents. The formation of the IDF, according to Gabriela Rep. Luz Ilagan, who is one of Mindanao’s leading advocate for tribal rights, has resulted in increased military deployments in communities where there is active resistance to, among other things, large-scale mining interests threatening the environment, as well as the people’s livelihood and native ways of life.

“The indigenous communities have been fighting these big companies because their intrusive operations have destroyed the natural environment, thus also the homes and livelihood of the locals,” Ilagan said in a recent statement. “But every opposition is met by harassment and human rights violations by the military.”

Mining in Surigao del Sur

The Caraga region, particularly Surigao del Sur, is known for its rich mineral resources. Among the major mining companies there are CTP Construction and Mining Corporation, Benguet Corporation and Carrascal Nickel Corporation (CNC).

CTP Construction and Mining Corporation is owned by Clarence T. Pimentel, a brother of Surigao del Sur Governor Vicente T. Pimentel. In its website, the company claims to have two mining properties in Carrascal town, covering a total of 4,000 hectares. This town was among those heavily militarized recently.

Benguet Corporation has mining operations in several provinces throughout the country, and carries out coal mining in Surigao del Sur. Its chief executive officer (CEO) is Benjamin Philip Romualdez, the president of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines. Among the members of Benguet Corporation’s executive committee is Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, a close political ally of Arroyo’s. The Romualdezes own 44 percent of Benguet Corporation.

CNC’s president is Antonio L. Co, who is also the chairman and president of Grand Asia Steel Resources and Dragon Asia Rolling Mills. Among its other major investors are Chen Fa Guan, also chairman of China’s Fujian Wuhang Stainless Steel Products; Carlos Chan, also chairman of Liwayway Marketing Corporation (Philippines), Chan C. Brothers, and Liwayway (China); Ferdinand Borja, also president of FS Borja Mining Corporation; and Fu Kong Sang, also president of Fulim Global Mining and Export Corporation.

The Lumad communities of Surigao del Sur are also among the areas recommended by the Department of Energy (DoE) for the mining of coal in the recently concluded Philippine Energy Contracting Round. In the Philippine Energy Contracting Round, which was concluded last June, the DoE offered a coal-mining area covering 6,000 hectares in San Agustin and Lianga towns, and another one covering 4,000 hectares in Tandag and Tago. All these towns have been affected by the militarization in recent months.

Caraga: A Major Mining Area

The presence of large mining companies in Surigao del Sur is best contextualized by the fact that it is part of a region that has long been on offer as a haven for large-scale mining.

“There are…mining opportunities in Caraga, the northeastern region that holds the country’s largest gold deposits,” reads a Jan. 29, 2004, statement from the Office of the Press Secretary.

Rich in gold, nickel, silver, chromite, manganese, copper, and other mineral resources, Caraga is considered one of the country’s major mining areas. The region is also reported to contain the country’s largest nickel deposits.

Ten of the Arroyo government’s 24 “Priority Mining Projects” are in Mindanao, with one of the largest being the Nonoc Nickel Project in Surigao del Norte.

As of March 2009, based on a report by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau during the 5th Caraga Mining Summit held on April 23-24, Surigao del Sur has the largest number of exploration permit applications in Caraga, with 35. Following are Agusan del Sur, with 27; Surigao del Norte, with 22; Dinagat Islands, with 21; and Agusan del Norte, with 13.

Surigao del Sur also has the largest number of applications for production-sharing agreements (APSAs) in the region, with 19; followed by Agusan del Norte, with 18; Agusan del Sur, with 17; Surigao del Norte, with 12; and Dinagat Islands, with five.

Caraga is covered by 41 mineral production sharing agreements (MPSAs), with 15 of these covering the Dinagat Islands, 13 covering Surigao del Norte, eight covering Surigao del Sur, and one each covering Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur. All in all, these 41 MPSAs cover a total of 96,186 hectares, or 5.05 percent of Caraga’s 1.9 million hectares.

Among the largest mining firms operating in Caraga are Taganito Mining, Platinum Group, and Oriental Synergy Mining, all in Surigao del Norte; SRMI Metals in Agusan del Norte; and Philsaga in Agusan del Sur.

Mining and Militarization

Critics have castigated the Arroyo regime for the militarization in Surigao del Sur and the rest of Caraga. “The Arroyo administration is ‘developing’ Caraga as the mining capital of the Philippines,” Isaias Morales of the human-rights group Karapatan in Caraga told Bulatlat in a recent interview. “The deployments are highest in mining and eco-tourism areas.”

“Mining and militarization are like twins,” said Ilagan of Gabriela in a recent webcast interview with Bulatlat.

In Surigao del Sur, militarization intensified in the Manobo communities following the conclusion of the Philippine Energy Contracting Round.

Militarization drove the Manobos of San Agustin, Lianga, Carrascal, and Tago towns to evacuation centers in Lianga town proper and in Tandag, the provincial capital.

The places used as evacuation centers — the Lianga Gymnasium and the Tandag Diocesan Pastoral Center — were crowded and the evacuees suffered from the lack of support from government agencies. Only through the efforts of their leaders were the members of these communities able to survive the harrowing conditions in the evacuation centers for almost three months.

Their community leaders brought their plight to the attention of government officials, non-government organizations, and people’s organizations at the local, national, and international levels. They would not go back to their communities, they said, unless the military pulled out. The military announced its pull-out only after the issue came to the attention of national leaders.

But the presence of the military still looms over their communities. Ilagan, who was also the spokesperson of Task Force Surigao, branded the military’s pullout from the Surigao del Sur communities as a “relative pullout.” While the military had pulled out of Lianga, Ilagan said, they had given notice that they would be back to continue implementing their “development” projects in the area. In Carrascal town, the soldiers did not even bother to leave. (ALEXANDER MARTIN REMOLLINO, Bulatlat.com)
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On September 20, 2009 at 5:45 in the afternoon, an alleged dynamite explosion transpired at the vicinity of Purok 2, Barangay Lapinigan, Claver, Surigao del Norte victimizing the following persons to wit: Saturnino Najial, 38 years old, married, fisherman; Norberto Sumbilla, 53 years old, married, fisherman; and Rosita Arayan, 66 years old, househelper, all residents of said place.

PNP members of Claver Municipal Police Station proceeded to the area and conducted investigation and hot pursuit operation which led to the apprehension of the suspect identified as one John Richie Calaycay, 22 years old, single, fisherman and resident of said place.

Victims were brought to Gigaquit District Hospital for medical treatment and were declared on stable condition. Initial investigation disclosed that the suspect and one Margie Sajulga were having a heated argument when the suspect threw a dynamite explosive at her. However, she escaped unhurt. Said dynamite accidentally exploded and hit the above-cited victims.

Suspect now detained at Claver Municipal Police Station while appropriate charges now prepared for filing in court. (PNP-13/ PIA-Caraga)
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CANADIAN MINER MBMI Resources, Inc. has secured a $200,000 loan from a European bank to fund its nickel exploration projects in southern Luzon and eastern Visayas.

The amount, which bears an annual interest rate of 10%, is the third and final tranche of the total $3-million loan from Global Capital Corp., the miner told the Canadian bourse on Monday.

"The net proceeds of the loans will be used for exploration and development of MBMI’s Philippine nickel mineral properties, and for general corporate purposes," David G. Tafel, MBMI Resources vice-president for corporate development, said.

The miner got a total of $2.8 million from the bank last month and early this month. MBMI Resources is exploring four nickel mines in Palawan, four in Samar, and one in Dinagat Island in Surigao del Norte. MBMI Resources and its local partners control nickel laterite projects covering about 22,000 hectares.

The miner wants to become a major supplier of high-grade nickel to industrial consumers in Asia, particularly in China and India. (Business World)
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City Mayor Alfonso Casurra and DOH Assistant Secreatry Dr. Elmer Punzalan led the groundbreaking last September 15 of the P35-million Drug Rehabilitation and Treatment Center to be constructed in Barangay Anomar this city.

Mayor Casurra revealed that the lot for the proposed rehabilitation center was donated by the city government of Surigao.

The construction of the facility however is being bankrolled under the Office of Special Concerns of the DOH.

"This project as you can see is in Phase 1, P7.5Million because the total project costs about P35Million. We hope to complete it before my term ends. In June of 2010, the succeeding phases of course will be handled by whoever will be the next mayor of the city of Surigao but according to the Regional Director, by hook or by crook, this will be opened before my term ends," said Mayor Casurra.

Casurra revealed that the proposed rehab center is a very strategic one for it will cater not only to patients in Caraga Region but also in neighboring provinces.

"This is a good area that could provide us this kind of services not only in Caraga Region but also in the area of S. Leyte. As you all now we are far more nearer S. Leyte than Tacloban itself in Region VIII so these areas can better serve by this facility and I am happy to tell you this will become an integrated approach of this kind of facility," Casurra said.

He also described the event as a very historical one. "Historical, in the sense, that nobody would even think that this kind of a treatment facility would be coming to Surigao not even in my wildest dreams."

Meanwhile, DOH Caraga Regional Director Dr. Leonita Gorgolon, revealed that it was more than a year now when the idea of putting up a drug rehab cropped up due to a number of reasons.

"First, we have the legal mandate, RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Drug Act of 2002. Second, is that, there is a pressing need to put a drug rehab center because of a high incidence of drug abuse problem as evidenced by the results of a national random drug testing in secondary and tertiary students in 2002 and 2005 wherein Caraga region ranked as among those highest students who tested positive of marijuana and shabu."

Also, ASec Punzalan said that the abuse of substances and its related problems continues to be a public health and social concern. "At present we still continue to experience problems in drug abuse and Caraga is one of the regions in the country noted to be with a high prevalence of drug use thus the conceptualization of the plan."

Earlier, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared herself as the drug czarina in the country and the said project in the region is part of her campaign to prevent and curb drug problems and provide rehabilitation and treatment to victims of drug abuse. (PIA-Surigao del Norte)
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THE seven-year-old parricide case against cult leader Ruben Ecleo Jr. would have to wait for a couple of weeks more before the court resumes trial.

Regional Trial Court (RTC) Soliver Peras of branch-10 yesterday moved for the resumption of the Ecleo's case from Sept. 23 to Oct. 14.

Peras, the seventh judge to handle the case, wanted to rule on the prosecution's motion for Ecleo's cancellation of bail before trial on the case starts.

Lawyer Kit Enriquez, one of the six prosecutors, welcomed the judge's decision.

“It's okay. All we want is for the court to rule on our motion for the cancellation of Ecleo's bail,” Enriquez said after a conference with Peras at branch 10 yesterday.

Prosecution lawyers sought the cancellation of Ecleo's bail in order to return the cult leader to jail.

The judge gave the lawyer Orlando Salatandre 10 days to comment on the motion filed the prosecution.

The court originally scheduled the hearing on Ecleo's case on September 23 and on October 7.

But due to the unresolved motion, Peras sought for time to resolve the motion.

Last week, the prosecution requested the court to decide on their motion which was left unresolved for three years.

Six judges inhibited themselves from handling the case against Ecleo, a former mayor of San Jose town, Dinagat Island in Surigao del Norte.

On March 1, 2004, RTC Judge Generosa Labra of RTC branch 23 earlier granted a P1-million bail on Ecleo after being informed by the cult leader's doctors about his critical heart condition.

The decision was affirmed by the Court of Appeals in a decision dated last July 27.

In a previous court testimony Dr. Generoso Matiga, a cardiologist of Perpetual Soccour Hospital said Ecleo had no significant coronary disease which would endanger his life if he was sent back to jail.

However in his testimony last July 13 Matiga told RTC Judge Geraldine Faith Econg of branch 9 that his examination was inconclusive.

Defense lawyers insisted that the medical, echocardiographic, treadmill stress test and cardiac catherization report of Dr. Matiga were all “baseless.”

They said there was no allegation of the reports that “re-commitment to the jail will not endanger the life of the accused.”

Alona, Ecleo's wife, was killed by strangulation in her house in sitio Banawa, barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City on Jan. 5, 2002.

Her remains were found inside a plastic bag dumped in a ravine in Daluguete town three days later. (Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol, inquirer.net)
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In preparation to prevent the outcome of climate change in the coastal City of Surigao, Atty. Mary Ann Lucille L. Sering, Undersecretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), has urged the City LGU, barangay executives and the public to abide with their department’s strategies to cope with its projected ill-effects.

Usec. Sering was the guest speaker on Climate Change forum held at City Cultural Center last Tuesday afternoon wherein LGU and barangay officials including department heads of different government agencies also graced the briefing on Climate Change.

She said Surigao being a coastal city is most vulnerable of these effects and projected that the city, especially the low-laying areas, will be submerged into sea water in the future.

“This is one of the effects of climate change to our city. What we do now is to prevent these things to happen,” Sering said.

She told spectators of the two current strategies in solving the same which she identified as mitigation and adaptation.

According to her, mitigation of climate change would involve taking actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to enhance efforts aimed at reducing the extent of global warming.

“These include reducing demand for emissions-intensive goods and services, increasing efficiency gains, increasing use and development of low-carbon technologies and reducing non-fossil fuel emission,”she explained.

Adaptation, on the other hand, was an adjustment response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects which would moderate any harm, she stressed.

“An example of an adaptation strategy is shore protection like dikes, bulkheads, dams for flood controls and so on – which can prevent sea level rise from inundating low-lying coastal property, eroding beaches, or worsen flooding,” she continued.

She added that for a poor country like ours which could not afford to build these costly structures, the planting of more mangroves in the shorelines would be ideal as it will prevent sea level to rise and likewise prevent tsunami.

Sering also asked the public to plant more trees in the city as it would absorb the carbon elements.

“Let us make something for the future of our successors. If we don’t act now, our children or grandchildren will suffer on the effects of climate change,” she concluded. (Agusan-Surigao Enquirer)
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To hasten the delivery of public service in terms of mobility in the communities of Siargao Island and Bucas Grande, Cong. Francisco Matugas recently handed out 100 units of 150cc motorcycles to recipient barangay councils covering the nine towns of District 1.

The turn-over ceremony of the said motorcycle units to the barangay chairmen was witnessed by DILG Sec. Ronaldo V. Puno recently at the Dapa Convention Center.

The motorbikes are expected to boost the day to day operations of the barangays in terms of transportation and mobility.

Matugas said he earmarked at least P5-million for the purchase of the said vehicles under his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

Chieftain Pepe Domagtoy of Brgy 12 in Dapa town said the motorbike would be a great help for they can work with ease and efficiency in following up documents or other needs in the barangay.

Matugas said he will soon procure 30 pumpboats for use of the island cluster barangays. (Agusan-Surigao Enquirer)
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Surigao City - To be a firefighter is one of the most laudable careers a person can have. It is also one of the most dangerous yet very challenging jobs.

Just recently, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Caraga Regional Director FSr./Supt. Warlito Daus presented a company of 12 dedicated female professional firefighters, the first in the country, trained not just to suppress and prevent fire, but also to perform other duties and responsibilities as medical first responder and rescue service provider.

“Meron pong lady firefighter tayo na paisa-isa o dalawa sa ibang lugar pero ito, this is the first in the country, having one company composed of 12 lady firefighters,” said Daus.

“Pati driver, lahat ng personnel ng isang truck panay babae,” Daus added.

They are now currently assigned in the Surigao City Fire Station. Daus explained that they will be operating in two shifts. First shift composed of 6 lady firefighters and the second shift with 6 lady firefighters too.

Daus assured the Surigaonons that these women firefighters have completed series of intensive trainings and orientation programs patterned in their training center.

“Mostly sa kanila tapos na ng basisc, may mga special courses pa yung iba, yung mga seniors nila. Yung mga trainings and orientation programs naming ay patterned sa aming training center. Mas mahigit pa nga sa higpit.”

Daus also divulged some 8 lady firefighters now currently assigned in Butuan City.

Meanwhile, Team Leader SFO1 Liezel Lisondra shared that she has been in the agency for almost 10 years doing only office work but with this new development, she can now proudly say that she has a lot to offer with life's challenges especially in helping save lives and properties. (PIA-Surigao del Norte)

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Surigaonons throughout the province will again join the world’s most successful community-led global environment campaigns, the “Clean Up the World” drive to address the effect on climate change on Friday Sep. 18, 2009.

Now in its 3rd year of implementation in the province, the provincial government will again tap the different sectors in the community such as the academe, business, and religious sectors including Non-Government Organizations (NGO’s) to get involved in the conduct of a 1-day clean-up drive on sea beaches, rivers, canals, drainage systems, and other public areas that would minimize the litter problem, improve the quality of waters, prevent the spread of diseases and consequently contribute towards a cleaner and healthier province.

Prov’l Administrator Adolfo Pantilo proudly disclosed the membership of the province to the Clean Up the World, an international environmental organization based in Australia mobilizing an estimated 35 million volunteers from more than 100 countries. Being a member, Pantilo emphasized the need for the Surigaonons to accept the challenge in protecting our environment.

Meanwhile, DILG Prov’l Director Rodulfo Nasi assured the provincial government the full support of his office to the activity. “Our office is solidly behind this effort of the prov’l government.”

“We believe that environment is a special concern of the province and not only of the province but the country as well. We know the problems besetting the country and the world especially with the present problem on climate change. I think these efforts will be part of the directions of the province and having this program be implemented at the barangay level,” he added.

Nasi also believed that with everybody joining in and contributing to this effort, Surigaonons can do something for the province and for the world.

This year's theme "Communities Uniting to Combat Climate Change" encourages the participants in the Clean Up the World Weekend, which will start on Sep. 18 to 20, to take action at a local level to address the very global issue of climate change. (PIA-Surigao del Norte)


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Kanunay gayud nga gipanglantawan ni Gov. Ace Barbers ang kaayuhan ug kalambo-an sa tanang kabatan-onang Surigaonon, diin sugod niadtong adlaw nga Lunes, Setyembre 14, 2009, ubay-ubay nga mga kalihukan mahitungod sa paghatag dugang kahibalo ug paghatag usab sa kahigayunan sa matag tinun-an nga mahanas pa ang ilang mga talent ang gipasiugdahan sa pangagamhanang probinsyal pinaagi sa Provincial Social Sevices Office ubos na sa pagdumala sa Department Head niini nga si Mr. Antonio Tiu.

Sa ilang gipahigayon nga PopQuiz 2009, 13 ka mga tinun-an nga naggikan sa mga nagkalain-laing secondary schools sa pipila ka mga munisipyo sa probinsya ang miapil sa maong kompetisyon diin ang Lungsod sa Bacuag nga girepresentahan ni Jonathan Madelo, maoy migula nga 1st Prize Winner nga midawat sa usa ka ang coach niini nga midawat ug pahalipay gikan sa Gobernador. Samtang ang 2nd Prize nakuha sa Surigao Norte National High School pinaagi ni Longrio Platil ug ni Kimberly Claire Mosquito sa Alegria National High School para sa ikatulong ganti .

Niadtong miaging adlaw, gipadayon sa PSSO ang ilang 19th Prov’l. POPDEV Club Convention diin adunay gamay nga tigum ang ilang gihimo ug ubay-ubay ang mga topiko nga ilang gihisgutan inubanan sa mga workshops ug uban pang activities alang sa tanang mga tinun-an nga mintambong niini.

Sa mensahe sa Regional Director sa Population Commission nga si Mr. Camilo Pangan iyang gihatagan ug kabug-aton ang tema sa maong kalihukan nga “Educating the Youth to Fight Against Poverty”. Matud pa ni Mr. Pangan, gikinahanglan gayud sa mga kabatan-onan karon ang tukmang edukasyon, kay mao man kini ang tubag sa tanan kakulangon o kawad-on sa kinabuhi sa tawo. Dugang pa niini,iya usab nga gibutyag, nga ang mga ginikanan, katilingban ug ang simbahan maoy mga nag-unang instrument aron nga mahatag gayud kanila ang sakto ug tukmang kahibalo aron nga mamahimo sila nga epektibo ug episyente nga mga katawhan sa umaabot nga panahon. (PGO- Surigao del Norte Media Bureau)

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The country’s leading domestic carrier, Cebu Pacific (CEB), offers P899 ‘Go Lite’ seats to any domestic destination from September 17-18, 2009 only, for travel from October 1-31, 2009.

Passengers with check-in luggage will just add P100 upon booking.

CEB, also Asia’s third-largest low cost carrier, has 50 routes in 32 domestic destinations, making it the airline with the most number of flights in the country.

Recently, it started flying to Cauayan (Isabela), Calbayog and Catarman in Samar and Virac, Catanduanes. It maintains its monopoly routes such as Cebu-Siargao, Cebu-Legazpi, Davao-Iloilo and Davao-Cagayan de Oro, among others.

“We expect more Filipinos to travel this October because of the semestral break and proximity of the travel period to All Saints and All Souls Day. This seat sale will allow travelers to bring their families and friends to new destinations, and to fly home more often—both of which are our goals as an airline company,” said CEB VP for marketing and product Candice Iyog.

Passengers can avail of this seat sale through the recently launched CEB payment center facility. Guests booking online can opt to pay for their bookings over the counter at Robinsons Bank, Banco de Oro and Metrobank, or via ATM at Robinsons Bank, Metrobank, and other Megalink and Bancnet members.

“We are doing this in order to widen our reach. Now, travelers who have no credit cards can likewise book CEB’s best deals and lowest fares through the website, and pay through our payment centers,” Iyog said.

Passengers are encouraged to book their flights through the reservation hotlines (02) 7020-888 or (032) 230-888, the payment centers (ATM or over-the-counter) or the website www.cebupacificair.com .

Gokongwei-owned CEB flies to 1,600 domestic flights per week. Since its inception in 1996, it has flown over 36 million passengers from its four hubs (Manila, Cebu, Davao and Clark), using the youngest fleet of aircraft in the country.

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Gikalipay ni Gov. Ace Barbers nga ang probinsya sa Surigao del Norte maoy gipili sa Civil Service Commission ug CARAGA Regional Council of Human Resource Managers’, Inc. nga maoy ilang venue sa ilang 6th CARAGA Regional Council of Human Resource Managers Convention nga magsugod karong Setyembre 16 ug matapos sa Setyembre 17, 2009 ug kini pagahimuon diha sa Provincial Convention Center, diin mihatag gayud ang batan-ong Gobernador sa iyang hugot nga suporta kabahin niini.

Ang maong kalihukan pagatambungan sa mga nagkadaiyang opisyales sa CARAGA Regional Council of Human Resource Managers’, Inc. (CRCHRMI), usa ka konseho nga nagtinambayayungay alang sa paghatag ug de kalidad ug husto nga serbisyo publiko ug gipanglantawan nga makahimo ug mga programa ug mga polisiya mahitungod sa human resource management pinaagi sa kooperasyon ug hiniusang pakigbisog sa tanang miyembro niini.

Ang ika-unom nga CARAGA Regional HRM Convention pagabuksan pinaagi sa usa ka opening ceremony diin si City Mayor Alfonso Casurra ug Gov. Robert Ace Barbers maoy mga gipasidunggang mamumulong niini. Ubay-ubay usab nga mga topiko ang ilang pagahisgutan mahitungod sa mga lakang ug mga pamaagi nga makapalambo sa panirbisyo sa matag empleyado ug ang maong mga topiko maglangkob na sa Psycho Cybernetics, Public Service Excellence, Organizational Politics ug Strengthening Human Resource Competencies.

Gipanghinaut ni Gov. Barbers nga magmalampuson ang maong dakong kalihukan nga ipahigayon dinhi sa probinsya. Iya usab nga gi-awhag ang katawhang Surigaonon nga mohatag sa ilang suporta pinaagi sa pagpakita sa mga maayong kina-iya diha sa tanang bisita nga mahidangat dinhi sa atong dapit ug sa pagminitinar sa kalimpyo ug kahapsay sa atong probinsya. (PGO- Surigao del Norte Media Bureau)
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Global miner Anglo American Plc. is looking to explore copper and gold in the northern Philippines after selling its stake in a gold and copper project in southern Mindanao island, a senior official said on Wednesday.

"We've been focusing on greenfield exploration in northern Philippines," Roderick Watt, exploration manager for the Philippine unit of the London-listed miner, told reporters on the sidelines of a mining conference.

"Currently, we're looking at properties in Apayao, Abra and Mangkayan. We think it looks promising."

There was no initial estimate on the amount of reserves in the 3 properties, which cover around 24,000 hectares, Watt said.

Anglo earlier sold its 50% share in the Boyongan gold and copper venture in Surigao del Norte province to Philippine partner Philex Mining Corp. for $55 million, following differences in their assessment of the viability of the project.

The Philippines is targeting its mining sector, one of the world's largest and most lucrative in the early 1970s, to attract up to $14 billion in investments by 2013.

But only around $2.4 billion has flowed in since 2004 due to communist insurgencies, disputes with communities and local partners, legal uncertainties and opposition from the Catholic Church.

With the global economy showing signs of recovery, "minerals development remains an optimistic opportunity", said Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza.

Atienza said he was confident the $14 billion goal would be achieved, with the biggest Philippine mining project -- the Tampakan copper-gold project controlled by Xstrata -- on track to start production in 2016. (abs-cbnnews.com)
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SENATE President Juan Ponce Enrile advised major players in the local mining industry to adopt best practices in their operations to “prevent environmental disasters of catastrophic proportions.”

“Exercise prudence and extreme caution in your mining activities for, if you do otherwise, the environmental and social costs will far outweigh the economic benefits from the mining industry,” Enrile exhorted members of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (CMP) in his speech at the 2009 Mining Conference and Exhibition held at the Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City yesterday. The CMP conference runs through September 17.

In turn, Enrile assured the CMP of the Senate leadership’s continuing support for the development of the local mining industry.

“If done properly, mining can bring benefits to the national economy and the people,” he added. “I am one of the believers of the benefits that the mining industry can bring to the economy and to our people, only if mining is done responsibly by applying the best practices.” The Senate chief pointed out, however, that mining operations in some parts of the country have already caused severe environmental damage and brought untold economic and social suffering to the people.

Enrile explained that studies done on the impact of mining on the nation’s economy showed that while there are economic benefits to the local community in terms of employment and revenues, “mining also cause many adverse effects on the economy, environment, and the health and safety of the people.”

These include, he said, the eviction and displacement of people, pollution of rivers and streams, destruction of mangroves and coral reefs, and devastation of agriculture land.

But despite these adverse findings, Enrile remained upbeat that the local mining industry would improve with new investments for as long as responsible practices are implemented.

“With more investments pouring in and with adherence to international mining practices and standards, the mining industry will once again become one of the drivers of the Philippine economy,” he added.

Enrile expounded on the economic benefits of mining activities to the local community in terms of employment and revenues which, he said, far outweigh the adverse effects on the economy, environment, and the health and safety of the people.

Noting that the Philippines is geographically situated along the so-called Rim of Fire, he said the country is well endowed with mineral deposits such as copper, chromate, nickel, silver, gold, gypsum, coal, marble and phosphate.

“Today, the Philippines is considered as one of the richest sources of minerals worldwide, with untapped mineral wealth estimated at more than $840 billion,” he said.

During the 1970s, when the Philippine mining industry was at its peak, Enrile recalled that “the country back then was ranked among the 10 leading gold and copper producers in the world. But a confluence of events led to its decline in the latter part of the 20th century.”

Enrile acknowledged, however, that in 2004, “hopes were raised for a resurgence of the industry after the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Mining Act of 1995.”

“Despite the various opposing opinions on this law, it has been widely viewed as a mechanism that will make the mining industry one of the drivers of economic growth,” he added.

Organizers of the three-day mining conference at Sofitel Hotel said the conferees are expected to take up developments in the mining sector not only in the Philippines, but also in other Asian countries.

The Mining Philippines 2009 conference and exhibition is organized with the support of the Minerals Development Council (MDC) under the Office of the President, as well as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).

NGOs raise alarm

Meanwhile, the Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM), a national coalition of more than 80 organizations composed of mining-affected communities and civil society organizations, yesterday blasted the CMP and the DENR’s international mining exhibition being held at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel.

The group staged a walking exhibit that illustrated the ill-effects of mining operations happening across the nation.

“We are here to balance out the exhibition on mining organized by the CMP and DENR. For the past years, the CMP and DENR have aggressively showcased mining as the economic driver to alleviate poverty. Never did CMP and/or the DENR present the injustices caused by the mining industry happening in the Philippines and never did they adequately addressed these problems,” said ATM coordinator Jaybee Garganera.

“There are the two sides of the coin, and we dare the CMP and DENR to showcase the real impacts of mining in the environment, health, livelihood and human rights of communities affected by mining operations in the country. Can they publicly prove to the Filipino people that the benefits from the mining industry outweigh its negative impacts?” said Garganera.

“We bear witness to the numerous mining communities from Benguet in Northern Luzon to Marinduque, to Sipalay and Hinuba-an in Negros to Taganito, Surigao del Norte, in Mindanao, which after decades of years of mining operations in these areas, these communities remain to be among the poorest in the country. Stripped of their natural resources, these communities are left with unemployment, migrant issues, social conflict and health problems,” added Garganera.

As of January 2009, there are about 2,600 pending applications for large-scale mining recorded by the MGB. There the 319 mining agreements issued and approved by the Philippine government, which already cover approximately 722,000 hectares of mining tenements all over the country as of December 2008.

“The 23 priority projects of the government in 2005, which already encroached in 60 percent of already declared protected areas and 53 percent of ancestral domains, have been increased to 62 priority projects in the pipeline. ATM believes that it is foolish for the government to aggressively showcase the Philippines as a mining haven for investors when, in fact, environmental, economic and social safeguards are inadequate and irresponsive to the needs of the Filipino people,” concluded Garganera.

The ATM is an advocacy group and a people’s movement that upholds the rights of the present and future Filipinos against the persisting injustices related to mining. It is an alliance of mining-affected communities and their support groups of NGOs/POs and other civil-society organizations convened by Haribon, Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center, Kasama sa Kalikasan/Friends of the Earth-Phils. and PhilDHRRA. (Business Mirror)
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THE Supreme Court (SC), voting 8-7, has issued a decision declaring that Section 80 of the Omnibus Election Code, banning election campaign outside the campaign period, remains in effect despite implementation of Republic Act 9369, or the poll-automation law.

In a 34-page decision penned by Associate Justice Minita Chico-Nazario, the Court en banc upheld the ruling of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) finding Rosalinda Penera, disqualified from holding office as mayor of Santa Monica, Surigao del Norte, for violating the Omnibus Election Code last January 30, 2008.

The SC also lifted the temporary restraining order (TRO) it earlier issued enjoining the Comelec from implementing its resolution against Penera.

Concurring with Nazario’s ponencia were Associate Justices Consuelo Ynares-Santiago, Renato Corona, Antonio Eduardo Nachura, Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, Lucas Bersamin, Mariano del Castillo and Roberto Abad.

Dissenting magistrates were Chief Justice Reynato Puno, Justices Leonardo Quisumbing, Antonio Carpio, Conchita Carpio-Morales, Presbitero Velasco Jr., Arturo Brion and Diosdado Peralta.

They adopted the arguments raised by Carpio in his dissenting opinion.

The majority said, “Whether the election would be held under the manual or the automated system, the need for prohibiting premature campaigning—to level the playing field between the popular or rich candidates, on one hand, the lesser-known or poor candidates, on the other, by allowing them to campaign only within the same limited period —remains.”

The Court noted that based on the evidence, Penera violated Section 80 of the Omnibus Election Code when she engaged in a premature campaigning by holding a motorcade consisting of two jeepneys and 10 motorcycles after registering her candidacy with the Comelec.

The conduct of a motorcade, holding political caucuses, conferences, meetings, rallies, parades, or other similar assemblies, for the purpose of soliciting votes for or against a candidate is a form of election  campaign which falls squarely within the ambit of Section 79 of the Omnibus Election Code.

“For violating Section 80 of the Omnibus Election Code, proscribing election campaign or partisan political activity outside the campaign period, Penera must be disqualified from holding the office of mayor of Sta. Monica,” the Court said.

The majority opinion also dismissed the claim of the dissenting opinion that Section 15 of RA 9369 provides a new definition of the term “candidate” as a result of which, Section 80 of the Omnibus Election Code is rendered unimplementable.

The Court explained that Section 79 (a) of the Ombinus Election Code defines a candidate as “any person aspiring for or seeing an elective public office, who has filed a certificate of candidacy by himself or through an accredited political party, aggroupment, or coalition of parties.”

However, Section 15 of the poll-automation law states that a person who files a certificate of candidacy shall not be considered a candidate until the start of the campaign period.

Thus, the dissenting opinion argued that prior to the start of the campaign period, there can be no election campaign or partisan political activity designed to promote the election or defeat of a particular candidate to public office because there is no candidate to speak of.

The dissenting opinion further explained that even if Penera’s acts before the start of the campaign period constitute election campaigning or partisan political activities, these are not punishable under Section 80 of the Election Code, given that she was not yet a candidate at that time.

On the other hand, Penera’s acts, if committed within the campaign period, when she was already a candidate, are likewise not covered as this provision punishes only acts outside the campaign period.

The dissenting opinion concluded that because of Section 15 or Republic Act 9369, the prohibited act of premature campaigning in Section 80 of the Omnibus Election Code, is practically impossible to commit at any time.

Still, the majority decision insisted that Section 80 remains in effect as RA 9369 did not contain any provision repealing the former.

Furthermore, the SC said there is no conflict between Section 80 and Section 15 of RA 9369 as the two laws can be “reconciled and harmonized.”

“The dissenting opinion, therefore, should not be too quick to pronounce the ineffectiveness or repeal of Section 80 of the Omnibus Election Code just because of a change in the meaning of candidate by Section 15 of Republic Act 8436, as amended, primarily, for administrative purposes.”

In ruling for Penera’s disqualification, the SC declared vacant the mayoral position held by Perena and order that the proclaimed vice mayor should then succeed as mayor. (Joel R. San Juan, Reporter-BM)
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SUMITOMO METAL MINING OF Japan and Nickel Asia Corp., the country’s biggest nickel mining group, yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding in Japan to proceed with a $1.3-billion nickel-processing plant in the municipality of Claver, Surigao del Norte.

Nickel Asia said the project would take three years to complete and construction is expected to start early next year. The project will represent the biggest foreign investment in the Philippine minerals sector to date.

The plant will be constructed adjacent to Taganito Mining Corp.’s nickel mine. Taganito, a subsidiary of Nickel Asia, will supply all of the required nickel ore to the plant over an estimated 30-year project life, while Nickel Asia will take a 20- to 25-percent equity interest in the project under a joint venture company called THPAL Corp. The output of the plant, a mixed nickel-cobalt sulfide, will be purchased by Sumitomo for final processing at its refinery in Japan.

This will be the country’s second downstream nickel processing plant by the Sumitomo-Nickel Asia tandem. The first plant is under Coral Bay Nickel Corp., a joint venture between a Japanese consortium led by Sumitomo and Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corp., another Nickel Asia subsidiary.

Constructed adjacent to the operations of Rio Tuba in southern Palawan, the plant became operational in 2005 and has been a technical and commercial success. Its initial capacity of 10,000 tons a year of nickel metal equivalent has since been doubled.

Nickel Asia said the new project, triple the size of the initial Coral Bay plant, was considered to be particularly beneficial to the country due to the value-added created by the downstream mineral processing plant.

The project is expected to employ about 4,000 personnel during the construction stage and 1,000 full-time employees when operational, adding that substantial benefits would accrue to the adjoining communities from its social development management projects, while yearly exports of its product would bolster the country’s foreign exchange reserves.

The memorandum was signed by Manuel B. Zamora Jr., chair and founder of the Nickel Asia group, and Gerard H. Brimo, president and CEO. (inquirer.net)
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Opposition Sen. Chiz Escudero yesterday warned that the power supply of Mindanao could reach critical levels soon if the development of more power plants on the island is not fast-tracked.

“If nothing is done to address the impending shortage, the national economy will take a hit from the expected impact on the region's industrial and commercial activities,” he stressed.

The 39-year-old lawmaker called for the construction of more power plants on the island, noting that the last power plant opened in Mindanao was in 2007 when its first coal-fired plant in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental was inaugurated.

That plant currently supplies 15 percent of the island’s total needs that averages 1,149 megawatts (MW) annually but which is expected to rise starting next year up to 2014.

Other proposed power plants like the 42.5-MW hydropower plant in Sibulan, Davao del Sur and the 27-MW Tamugan hydropower plant in Davao City will still take years before coming on-stream, while a 200-MW coal-fired plant in Maasim, Sarangani is expected to start operations by 2012.

“Government should also try to continue developing alternative power sources to lessen dependence on fossil fuels like oil and to cushion the impact of an expected power shortage.” Escudero said.

In 2007, oil was the main source of fuel for providing power in the Philippines, accounting for 55.9 percent of primary energy demand. It was followed by coal (23.9 percent), gas (12.4 percent) and hydro electric energy (7.8 percent).

The Department of Energy already expects a power shortfall of 174 MW by 2011, while the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry sees a shortage of 400 MW by 2014.

Given the current demand and the projected requirement, actual power reserves in the whole Mindanao grid are expected to decline to 60 MW in 2014 and 16 MW the year after before an actual deficit sets in by 2016.

“Our economic planners forecast growth of about 2.8 percent for 2009 on the premise that last year’s net foreign direct investments will be replicated. But if we can’t ensure a consistent power supply, then investors are unlikely to come here,” Escudero said.

Based on the government’s Power Development Plan, total power demand in the Philippines is projected to more than double to 17,722 MW in 2014 from the current 8,559 MW.
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A multicab driver died while eight of his passengers were injured when a passenger bus hit the vehicle they were riding in along the national highway in Bacuag, Surigao del Norte, a police official said yesterday.

Chief Inspector Nelly Villagarcia, chief information officer of the CARAGA Regional Police, identified the lone fatality as Luis Patriana, 60, driver of the multicab.

The injured victims, she said, were Pablo Ramirez Jr., Adelaida Eliazar, Wilmar Mollanda, Riza Crispo, Renzo Ortiz, Glorino Ortiz, Janet Gromez and Michael Simoy Cudillo, all passengers of the multicab.

"All injured victims were brought to Caraga Regional Hospital Surigao City for medical treatment," said Villagarcia.

The official said the multicab was travelling along the highway in Bacuag town when the bus bumped their vehicle at the vicinity of Sitio Hinatigan in Barangay Poblacion at around 10 a.m. on Saturday.

The driver of the bus, Emeliano Berong Cabuga, is now detained at the Bacuag Police Station while the Bachelor bus was temporarily impounded in the area, said Villagarcia. (Tempo)
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Ai Ai delas Alas (left) has a new co-performer in Face to Phase...of Love, Life, Laughter and Beauty, which set last Saturday, Sept. 12, 9 p.m. at Aliw Theater.

She’s Jade Ecleo (right), the governor of Dinagat Islands.

The bubbly lady not only breaks into a weepy Didith Reyes number. She can also shift from sentimental to sizzling in a hot Beyoncé or J. Lo number. She can even lapse into a hot Tango Argentine performance and belly dance for all she’s worth.

Ecleo is temporarily taking time off from her official duties to headline the concert, which will help raise funds for Jade Ecleo-Villaroman Foundation. The two-year-old Foundation gives scholarships to poor and deserving high school and college students from the Dinagat Islands. The Foundation also has programs for the elderly, gives financial aid for treating medical/surgical conditions and provides wheelchairs to the disabled in the community. Other beneficiaries include Associacion de Damas in Manila, White Cross in San Juan, Philippine General Hospital’s Pediatric Charity Ward, Golden Acres and Hospicio de San Jose’s Home for the Aged.

Ecleo used to perform in New York as vocalist of Inner Circle band, a group of professionals. The band performed thrice a week from 1994 to 1996. She also did the rounds of various night spots in Manila as lead singer of Amadeus Band.

Ecleo also performed one folk number after another as member of the Bayanihan dance company. (Maridol Rañoa-Bismark, Philstar.com)
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As he bid farewell to the City in 2010, the country’s Most Outstanding City Mayor Pons Casurra now have a monumental legacy for the Surigaonons, as President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo finally signed the Special Patent No. 3745 declaring the One Million Sixty Four Thousand Seven Hundred Sixty (1,064,760) Square Meters or more or less 106 hectares area in Nonoc Island be donated in favor to the City Government. The said area covers the entire location of the Special Economic Zone where all Philnico facilities are situated.

The Special Patent will now give the City Government its absolute ownership and rights of the area which would provide full authority to transact and negotiate whoever interested investors who wanted to re-operate the mothballed Nickel Refinery in Nonoc Island.

City Mayor Alfonso Casurra in an exclusive interview with Island Post, this is one of the most significant success stories rendered by his administration since he assumed office as city’s chief executive.

“We are doing this effort since 2006 and now, it was finally granted in our favor… I am so proud and happy to tell the Surigaonons of this development” he said.

In 1999 during the incumbency of deposed President Joseph Estrada, a Presidential Proclamation No. 172 and 192 has been signed and issued by the latter, declaring the same area be conveyed to the City of Surigao but still needs a Special Patent for its absolute ownership.

The Land Management Bureau under the office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) had thoroughly reviewed and approved all the technical descriptions and come up with a recommendation to Environment Secretary Lito Atienza. The DENR favorably indorsed the same to the office of the President and Pres. Arroyo herself finally signed the Special Patent just recently.

Casurra further revealed that the only regrettable part in that considered blue-chip investment in Nonoc Island is that, despite the efforts taken by the city government and its officials to attract foreign investors, they don’t have the luxury time to materialize the re-opening of the mothballed nickel refinery because of the various obstacles and stumbling blocks encountered during the negotiation period.

But still the city was able to collect taxes out from the extraction of ores in the Nonoc area which will be transported to foreign lands.

He, however, expresses high hopes that the next national and city administrations will be able to push through another leap of development in that said area in Nonoc Island to somehow bring back the life of the nickel plant to provide a brighter economic future for the Surigaonons, Casurra said.

In related development, various supporters claimed that Special Patent 3745 be tagged as a “CASURRA LEGACY”, the mayor simply replied “WELL HISTORY WILL JUDGE ME ON THAT”… (Natz Corbeta)
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The contingent of Surigao del Norte National High School (SNNHS) walked away triumphant from this year's Bonok-bonok Maradjaw Karadjaw Festival after bagging the championship crown in the competition held Wednesday, September 9, 2009 at the newly refurbished Sen. Robert Z. Barbers Memorial Sports Complex.

In this year’s festival, SNNHS contingent brought with them P250, 000 as their winning prize. The Tribu Hiyas Kabataan from Surigao West Central Elementary School was named as 1st runner-up with P200, 000 cash prize. The 2nd runner-p was the festival from Abuyog town in Leyte, the Buyogan Festival, that won a P150,000 cash prize while the Tikyabang Festival from Gen. Luna town was named as 4th runner-up with P100,000 cash prize.

Also, special awards for Best in Choreography and Best in Street dancing all went to SNNHS contingent. Furthermore, special award for Best in Musicality went to Abuyog, Leyte while special award for Best in Costume went to Tribu Hiyas Kabataan of SWCES.

It was learned that contingent from Tacloban City opted not to join from the competition because of some health concerns. Cabadbaran and Cantilan also backed out for some unknown reason.

“Mixed emotions,” Dr. Dulcissima Corvera, SNNHS Principal, described her initial reaction. “We weren’t expecting to win.” She then thanked all the donors, students, teachers and parents for the support.(PIA-Surigao del Norte)

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Canada’s MBMI Resources, Inc. is aiming to obtain the second tranche of its $3-million secured loan from a European bank to fund nickel exploration projects, the miner told the Canadian bourse late last week.

“Up to $1.8 million will be advanced to MBMI in the form of a secured two-year convertible debenture for up to $900,000, and a secured two-year bridge loan for up to $900,000,” said MBMI Resources president Michael T. Mason. “The net proceeds of the loans [from Global Capital Corp.] will be used for exploration and development of MBMI’s Philippine nickel mineral properties, and for general corporate purposes,” he added. The principal amount in the second tranche will be convertible into shares of MBMI Resources at the option of the lenders at a fixed conversion price of $0.10 per unit. The lenders will also be issued up to 1.333 million common shares of MBMI Resources at $0.135 apiece. The miner is exploring four nickel properties in Palawan, four in Samar, and one in Dinagat island. MBMI Resources and its local partners control nickel laterite projects covering about 22,000 hectares. (Business World)
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More Caraganons benefitted the simultaneous medical, dental and feeding mission of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) held Sunday, September 6 throughout the country.

In Caraga Region, the activity opened at eight o’clock in the morning in key cities, provinces and municipalities.

Alicia C. Figuracion, 56 years old from Purok 2 Brgy. Capalayan of Surigao City was very happy to receive medicines from personnel of PCSO and the Provincial and City Health Office of Surigao after she was examined by a medical doctor who volunteered to serve the Surigaonons.

The teary-eyed Figuracion is thankful to PCSO as well as to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who leads in spreading the charity virus nationwide. “Talagsa-on gajud kini nga higayon nga gitanyag sa PCSO ug sa Pangulo sa atong nasud – Presidente Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo alang sa mga kabus sama kanako. Mao nga mapasalamaton gayud ako kaniya.” (This is a rare opportunity offered by PCSO and our President – Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for the less-privileged like me. So, I am so thankful to her), she said.

Also, 53 year-old Jesima Arnuza of Brgy. Cabongbongan, this city is suffering from diabetes and buying medicines for her maintenance is one of her problems but because of the activity, she was given free medicine. “Dako gyud ang akong pasalamat sa PCSO ug sa atong mahal nga Pangulo Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo kay gitagaan gyud ug higayon ang among dakbayan aron ma-serbisyohan niini nga kalihukan” (I am very much thankful to PCSO and to our President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for giving our city the opportunity to be served through this activity).

In a separate interview, Dr. Maria Isabel Makinano, Surigao del Norte Assistant Provincial Health Officer, along with Dr. Aldine Morales, Surigao City Health Officer inform PIA of their role in the mission. They said their respective offices support the activity by way of providing manpower in serving the beneficiaries.

In the feeding program, all key provinces and cities were able to deliver the mission achieving 100 percent of its target beneficiaries – thus, achieving the program’s title “100 percent in one day”.

As the activity closed around 4 o’clock in the afternoon, the medical-dental mission team from Surigao City served 420 beneficiaries in the medical and 169 in dental. Meanwhile, 1,000 Surigaonons from all walks of life were also benefitted in the feeding program. Same figure was also noted in Butuan City, Province of Dinagat Islands, Agusan del Sur, and some municipalities of Surigao del Sur.

The simultaneous nationwide medical, dental and feeding program is in line with the PCSO’s 75th anniversary celebration with its mission to continue to “spread the charity virus”. (Robert E. Roperos, PIA-Caraga)

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Century Peak Metals Holdings Corporation (CPMHC) has met the requirements of the Philippine Mineral Reporting Code, or PMRC, becoming the first mining applicant company to comply with the Code as a pre-requisite for initial listing in the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE). The PMRC is the PSE’s basis for all disclosures to be made by listed mining companies involving local exploration results, mineral resources and ore reserves, and is compatible with major global mineral reporting standards.

“Century Peak’s compliance with The Philippine Mineral Reporting Code speaks volumes of the company’s strong business vitals and world-class operations. We hope to see more mining applicant firms following suit, not only to strengthen and further increase investor confidence in the mining and oil index, but to set a higher standard for the local mining industry as whole,” said Francis Ed. Lim, PSE president and chief executive officer.

Approved by the PSE in August 2007, the PMRC is rooted in the principles of Transparency, Materiality and Competence, and patterned after the international mining codes of Australia, the European Union, Canada and South Africa. It sets the minimum requirements, recommendations, and guidelines for public reporting of exploration results, mineral resources and ore reserves undertaken by an accredited, independent Competent Person. This Competent Person is tasked to determine the mineable reserve’s sensitivity and feasibility and to validate the ore reserves to ensure full-disclosure prior to the public declaration. The PMRC also provides a mandatory system for the classification of mineral tonnage and grade estimates according to geological confidence and technical economic considerations.

According to Century Peak, its achievement of being the first PMRC-compliant company for initial listing under the PSE’s mining sector showcases its belief in and determination to realize its vision of a vertically integrated mining operation focused on nickel.

CPMHC is the holding firm of Century Peak Corp. (CPC), the nickel-mining company it fully acquired in March 2008, and Century Hua Guang Smelting Inc., where it has a 55% stake. CPMHC received PSE approval for its initial listing by way of introduction in July 2009, following the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)’s pre-effective clearance for CPMHC’s listing application granted in August 2008. The listing of CPMHC in the Exchange shall be announced at a later date.

CPC holds Mineral Production Sharing Agreements (MPSA) in Loreto in the Dinagat Islands and Albor, Dinagat Province. Currently, CPMHC is undertaking numerous projects to expand the versatility of other mineral extracts such as chromite and irons either through joint ventures or operating agreements with other tenement holders.

Collectively, CPC’s total area for proposed mining operation is 10,182 hectares and growing. This consists of 4,386 hectares for extraction, development and further exploration; 660 hectares for drilling and exploration; and 5,136 hectares awaiting exploration permits respectively.

Century Hua Guang Smelting Inc. is a joint venture of CMPHC with the owners of Zhejiang Hua Guang, a privately-held Chinese corporation and one of the largest nickel pig iron producers in China, to establish a blast furnace facility in the Philippines with the purpose of producing nickel pig iron. Under the partners’ agreement, the owners of Zhejiang Hua Guang will spearhead the construction and development of the Smelting Plant on a turnkey basis and provide personnel who will be responsible for the plant’s operation. (abs-cbnnews.com)
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ZAMORA-LED Taganito Mining Corp. has hiked its authorized capital by more than three times to P2 billion to pay investors their share in the company’s profits, documents from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) showed. Of the new shares, P850 million were issued as dividends to stockholders Hinatuan Mining Corp. (P552.5 million), Pacific Metals Co. Ltd. (P284.75 million) and Sojitz Corp. (P12.75 million).

The capital increase was approved by the company’s board and shareholders on June 2, while the SEC gave its nod to the plan on Aug. 28. The stock dividend declaration raised the nickel miner’s paid-up capital to P1.5 billion. Last year, Taganito Mining’s profits were cut by almost half to P951.25 million after sales dropped to P2.13 billion from P4.25 billion in 2007. It paid P845 million in dividends in 2008 from P300 million the previous year, documents from the SEC showed. The company, headed by businessman Manuel B. Zamora, has the exclusive right to explore and develop 3,279 hectares in Claver, Surigao del Norte. The nickel miner, which started operations in 1989, holds a 25-year license which may be renewed for 25 more years. Taganito Mining, whose parent firm is Nickel Asia Corp., exports its output to customers in Australia, China and Japan. In May, Japanese mining firm Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. Ltd. said it would team up with Nickel Asia to put up a P3-billion ore processing plant in northeastern Mindanao next year. (Business World)
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo asked Mindanao local executives to help in the implementation of the government's reform agenda.

The President made the call at the closing ceremonies of the Mindanao-Island Cluster Conference, which was sponsored by the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) here.

The government's reform agenda includes programs designed to uplift the economy, improve education, protect the environment, feed the poor and generate jobs.

In her speech, the President said an additional P40 billion in internal revenue allotments (IRA) is now allocated to local government units (LGUs).

She added her administration was able to pay even the IRAs owed to LGUs by past administrations.

The President directed the executives to create an anti-hungry taskforce in their municipalities.

Mindanao has six of the country's poorest provinces. These are Zamboanga del Norte, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, and Lanao del Sur.

The President told her audience to follow the example of National Nutrition Council (NNC), which has a anti-poverty task force that conducts visits to poor provinces and addresses the nutritional problems of the inhabitants.

At present, the NNC has regional anti-hunger taskforces in Saranggani, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay, Agusan del Sur, Maguindanao, Surigao del Norte, and Lanao del Norte.

In closing, the President reminded the local executives that they owe their positions to their constituents.

"We have to give them the best of our efforts," the President said. (PIA)
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Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Agusan del Norte Field Office is in the final stage of preparation for the upcoming nationwide medical, dental, feeding and information-gathering mission on Sunday, September 6, as part of the effort to "spread the charity virus" nationwide.

Dubbed as '100 percent in one day', a number of doctors, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, health workers, medical professionals and concerned Filipino citizens from the government and private sector leave the comforts of their home to perform the biggest act of charity in the country.

The charity mission aims to cover all of the country's 41,995 barangays.

In Caraga Region, PCSO is setting up media center in Butuan City and Surigao City aimed to feed live coverages in the national television. Father Saturnino Urios University (FSUU) Gym is set for Butuan's media center while the San Juan Gym in Surigao City will be the venue for Surigao del Norte.

According to PCSO-Caraga Lottery Operations Officer Gloria Ybañez, a total of 1,310 barangays throughout the region will benefit from the mission. "This number of barangays comprises 60% of the total number of barangays in Caraga," Ybañez said.

In the Infotext program where the IMAP guidelines will be implemented, the mission aims to serve 1,310 beneficiaries throughout the region - or 100% of the beneficiaries.

Also, Ybañez said that during the event, PCSO is targeting for a 100% registration of "Kaibigan ng PCSO" volunteers which was launched in the city on May, 2009. "This is the continuation of the PCSO Caravan and Kaibigan ng PCSO launching last May, 2009 where hundreds of volunteers throughout the region were able to register. So, for those who are still interested to join as PCSO's kaibigan (friends), this is their last chance to have their names registered," she said.

For Agusan del Norte, PCSO has assigned 12 venues for the medical-dental mission. For the whole region, a total of 77 venues were set for the mission.

In the feeding program, children from Agusan del Norte, Province of Dinagat Islands, and Surigao del Norte as well as sick elders are expected to benefit the program.

The nationwide medical, dental, feeding and information-gathering mission highlights the 75th year anniversary of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). (PIA-Caraga)
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THE MINERAL output of Philex Mining Corp. dropped by 7.5% last month, the listed miner told the stock exchange yesterday.

Philex Mining, the country’s largest miner, said output stood at 663,762 dry metric tons (MT). It produced 272,457 grams of gold, 1.201 million kilograms of copper, and 271,877 grams of silver in August, lower than the July output of 329,717 grams of gold, 1.368 million kilograms of copper, and 321,297 grams of silver.

The provisional value of the mineral output also dipped by 7.8% to P795 million, broken down as follows: P408 million for gold, P381 million for copper, and P6 million for silver.

Philex Mining ships its mineral output to Japan.

The miner operates the Padcal copper and gold project in Benguet. Commercial operations in Padcal mine have been extended to 2017 from 2014 given the discovery of more reserves.

The company is aiming 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.

In February, Philex Mining assumed full control of the 5,184-hectare mine after it bought a 50% equity from Anglo American Exploration (Philippines) BV for $55 million. Anglo American had said the project was not feasible.

Philex Mining shares were unchanged at P10.25 apiece yesterday.

Meanwhile, the local unit of Canadian miner TVI Pacific, Inc. has completed its sixth shipment of copper concentrates.

TVI Resources Development, Inc. said it sold approximately 5,264 dry MT of copper concentrates, or copper with ore, worth $5.4 million to Switzerland’s MRI Trading AG on Aug. 31.

The copper concentrates were obtained from the Canatuan property in Zamboanga del Norte.

So far, the Canatuan Mine has produced approximately 31,300 dry MT of copper concentrates, of which 29,705 dry MT worth $34.1 million have been sold through the offtake agreement with MRI Trading.

In November last year, TVI Resources agreed to sell all of its copper concentrate production to MRI Trading, one of the largest global copper concentrate trading houses, for five years.

Funds from the sale of copper concentrates would be spent for working capital and debt service, the miner said.

Last month, TVI Resources shipped 5,317 dry MT of copper concentrates valued at $5.1 million to MRI Trading.

About 5,000 dry MT of concentrates will be shipped every four weeks depending on specific shipping and marketing arrangements, the miner said. (Business World)
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Alarmed with the rising hunger incidence, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo initiated in July 2006 the Accelerated Hunger-Mitigation program or AHMP, an all-out campaign to curb, if not eradicate, hunger.

The AHMP is a package of strategies and interventions to address hunger and poverty in a holistic manner, both from the supply side and from the demand side.

On the supply side, measures are along producing more food and efficient delivery of food to whom and where it is needed.

On the demand side, efforts aim at putting more money in people's pockets, promoting good nutrition, and managing population growth.

The AHMP is implemented in groups of provinces categorized by priority.

Priority one province (Food-Poorest Provinces) - Based on subsistence incidence (2003 Family and income expenditure survey) include the provinces of Zamboanga Del Norte, Mountain Province, Masbate, Lanao Del Norte, Maguindanao, Camarines Norte, Agusan Del Sur, Sarangani, Surigao del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay and the entire Metro Manila.

Priority two provinces (Poorest Provinces) include Surigao del Sur, Camarines Sur, Misamis Occidental, Samar, Biliran, Marinduque, Kalinga, Lanao del Sur, Sulu, Romblon, Antique, Davao Oriental, Palawan, Negro Oriental, Sultan Kudarat, Oriental Mindoro, Abra, Bukidnon, Occidental Mindoro, and Tawi-Tawi.

Priority three provinces (with existing hunger mitigation programs) include Leyte, Eastern Samar, Camiguin, Northen Samar, La Union, Southern Leyte, Ifugao, Zamboanga del Sur, Quezon, Davao del Norte, Albay, Davao del Sur, Sorsogon, Cotabato, Aklan, South Cotabato, Iloilo, Apayao, Negros Occidental, Capiz, Catanduanes, Basilan, Bohol and Agusan del Norte.

The AHMP is implemented by the 30-agency member anti-hunger task force led by health secretary and National Nutrition Council chair Francisco T. Duque III. (PIA 12)
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