1st Provincial Tourism Congress slated on February, 2011

By PJTremedal, BND MIsOCC-CIB/OCM

Provincial Capitol, MisOC- The 1^st Provincial Tourism Congress is slated on February 16-18 this year. A two day meeting of minds and seeing wonderful tourism destinations of the 3 cities and 14 towns of the province will be conducted to rediscover the province beauty and best tourism potentials.

In its theme: Re-discovering the beauty and its best of Misamis Occidental, versioned to be a meeting point for all institutional, entrepreneurial and social stakeholders that is related to tourism industry. It also wants to b a platform for the exchange of information, reflections, best practices and projects and programs related to a very fast-growing tourism industry in our province and country today.

As pinpointed in its vision, the 1^st Provincial TourismCongress will represent a cornerstone of a new entertainment culture based on healthy activities and respectful ways of enjoying the environment and the culturalheritage of Misamis Occidental and its constituents.

On its activities, Provincial Tourism Council Chairman, Gerard Hilarion Ramiro said that this is the first ever happened in the province 81 years of its existence. The two day Congress will be a great help not only for the province tourism program but to its 17 towns and cities.

In day 1, Local Tourism Officers and Local Tourism Council will meet and discuss things and rediscover how beautiful is the province and the best of its tourism potentials. Mr. Gain Paul Barras, Provincial Tourism Officer-Designate, in the meeting confirms with the other Tourism Officers of the municipalities and the cities of Tangub, Ozamiz, and Oroquieta.

On the next day, as a major undertaking of the 1^st Provincial Tourism Congress, the 1^st “Lantaw sa Misamis Occidental” will commence, Lantaw is a Visayan word meaning sightseeing to all tourism potentials and destination offered by its 17 towns and three cities.

The 1^st “Lantaw sa Misamis Occidental” will be joined by other stakeholders and guests and take a ride with the province newest acquisition of its two modern buses initiated by the provincial government of Governor Hermie Ramiro to cater the needs of its employees, visitors, and other passengers to sight see the province natural and beautiful destinations.

In the said Congress there will be a Photo and Layout Design competitions for Students and other professionals, the contest will be having a two category: Open and In-School category. Mr. Barras added that because of financial needs, the congress has a registration of 500 pesos for Tourism Officers and Tourism Council Chairpersons (with 1 night accommodation at MOAP, food for 3 meals, transportation, Id and souvenir T-shirts) 200 pesos for each stakeholders and partakers and other guests (each will have a free lunch, ID and a souvenir T-shirt).

Mr. Barras also said that the congress will undergo Team Building activity, lecture and discussion, brainstorming, work group discussion, technology acquisition after workshops and participation.

In the 1^st Lantaw sa Misamis Occidental, 5 sectors will be focused on Tourism services (Transportation, Travel Agencies, Tourism Guides), Food and Delicacies, Products(OTOP), Accommodations (Hotels and Restaurants) and Promotions and other undertakings boosting the tourism industry of the 17 towns and cities and the Misamis Occidental.

Almonte led Oroquieta’s Tourism Plans Implementation

By PJTremedal, BNDMisOC-CIB/OCM

Oroquieta City – The City Government thru its City Tourism Council under the administration of City Mayor Jason Paredes Almonte is now prioritizing its tourism industry development as one of his administration agenda.

Philippine Tourism Industry not only in Oroquieta but to all cities, towns and province of the country is now on the go not only to promote its potential and destinations but to help solve unemployment, business opportunities, and livelihood assistance program to every constituent.

Late this week, CM Almonte together with his City Administrator, Engr Arecio Casing Jr. went to Davao City to have a formal consultation with a Zip-line making company to discuss its acquisition and budget.

The city as one of its agenda in tourism industry, will be establishing a zip line attraction which can attract local and foreign tourist that will come to Oroquieta on the days to come. A zip line attraction is now getting a huge part of the tourism destinations and potentials.

The said Zip line attractions will be build in Barangay Bunga (at the foot of the Mt. Malindang Park) wherein the city bounds. Sightseeing and other natural beauty will be seen a top a zip line traversing how many feet in length and flying like a bird attached to a zip line as high as 60 feet.

Meantime, Mrs. Ivy Gomonit-Amonte who now heads the City Tourism Council has planned out tourism development undertakings to promote the city as one of the tourism potential of the province of Misamis Occidental.

Other tourism industry of the city is now on the bag to be promoted like hotels, restaurants, beaches, and other services like food and delicacies and other attractions will be establish to cater tourist may it be local and foreign.

“This will surely help solve our unemployment, livelihood assistance and needs of Oroquietanons” City Mayor Almonte said.

PIA holds cancer forum in Basilan

By Rene V. Carbayas

ISABELA CITY, BASILAN – The Philippine Information Agency in Basilan hosts an educational forum on Cancer Awareness and Prevention Friday in Isabela City for members of the Basilan Communicators Network, Inc.

As part of the month-long observance of the Department of Health, some 40 communications and information officers of various government and non-government agencies and institutions gathered in a forum, highlighting the observance of the month of January as Cancer Awareness month.

Resource person, Bernardita F. Hontucan, a nurse of the City Health Office of Isabela acknowledged that cancer is indeed “a scary word and a scary disease that has killed a lot of people all over the world.”

Although, it is not identified as one of the top 10 killer disease in the region, there is a reason for Basilan to be concerned, especially among women who are prone to breast cancer. Hontucan noted that quite a number of people in Basilan has been or is contracted with the disease.

“The good news is,” however, she said, “while many were killed of cancer, millions of people who have had cancer are still alive, because doctors have learned a great deal about treating and preventing cancer.”

Hontucan emphasized, however, that prevention is still the best cure. And that by prevention means that one should be aware of the disease and its causes. She discussed the different causes of cancer that include tobacco, alcohol, diet, sexual and reproductive behavior, infectious agents, family history, occupation, environment, and pollution.

A participant also pointed out that based on a recent study, stress has also become one of the probable cause of cancer among women. Mary Joy Luzon, DepEd nurse in charge cited that women today have multiple roles and tasks (i.e. as mother, wife, worker, employee, etc) that contribute to stress.

According to the estimates of the American Cancer Society (ACS), approximately 40% of the cancer deaths in 2003 were due to tobacco and excessive alcohol use. An additional one-third of the deaths were related to diet and nutrition. Many of the one million skin cancer cases were due to overexposure to ultraviolet light from the sun's rays.

A video documentary on the importance of breast self exam (BSE) among women, married or unmarried, was also an opportunity even for male participants to be aware of the risks and advocate the issue to the women in their life.

The speaker explained that cancer is not a single disease. It includes more than 100 different diseases. They may affect any part of the body. But they have one thing in common: they are all caused by cells that are out of control.

Science taught us that all living things are made up of cells. An adult human body has about 30 trillion cells and they reproduce by dividing in half. In an adult body, about 25 million cells divide every second. Sometimes a cell gets out of control and divides over and over. And that’s what cancer is – unhealthy cells, growing and reproducing out of control. These cells are said to be cancerous.

When cancerous cells multiply, they form clumps called tumors. Tumors can interfere with important body processes. Cancerous cells can also spread to other parts of the body, then new tumors form. This spreading is called metastasis and this is the most dangerous. When cancer attacks several parts of the body, it is hard to stop.

Health authorities have persistently reminded the citizens through the observance of the cancer month on the gravity of the disease and that cancer is still curable whenever detected early.

Following the forum, the PIA and the members of the BASCOMNET present have suggested to hold series of fora on health related concerns in support to the advocacy of the country’s health department, including all other government agencies’ monthly observance and celebration. (PIA9-BST)

ASG leader wounded in a clash with govt troops in Basilan

By Michael Vincent D. Cajulao

ZAMBOANGA CITY – A notorious Abu Sayyaf leader wanted for the spate of bombings and kidnappings in Basilan Province was wounded after the military clash with the terrorist group in Basilan on Wednesday.

Col. Nicanor Dolojan of the Philippine Army in the province identified the wounded ASG leader as Nu Hassan Jamiri. Dolojan said they are now tracking Jamiri in the town of Al Barka. “Per intelligence reports, Nur Hassan Jamiri is wounded,”Col. Dolojan said.

The fighting broke in the village of Kabun Pababag, deep within the mountains of Tipo-Tipo municipality, after the military overran an Abu Sayyaf camp. The firefight spread to Al Barka Jamiri and around 50 of his followers fled.

Officials confirmed one casualty on the government’s side.

Meanwhile, a text message allegedly sent by the Abu Sayyaf, threatening to bomb vital installations in the city, has been circulating the past few days according to the city police.

P/Sr. Supt. Edwin de Ocampo, Officer-in-charge of Zamboanga City Police, said text message is just a diversionary tactic being employed by the terrorists to cause the government troops in Basilan to slow down with their operations against ASG in Basilan. De Ocampo pointed that the city is presently not receiving threats.

De Ocampo revealed the message is meant to sow fear to the public as it warns them of series of bombings in the city. However, De Ocampo stressed that they are not taking this lightly. He said proper actions will be taken to keep the public safe.

De Ocampo has ordered the deployment of police personnel in key installations like government offices, gasoline stations, hospitals and others to prevent any untoward incidents. He also called on the public to stay vigilant and be cautious of suspicious people and baggage. (PIA9-ZC)