LTO Oroquieta Hit the Streets Lady Enforcers: We will do what men had to do!

LTO-Oroquieta OIC Carmencita Pangilinan with OIC P/Supt Paciano Deloso OCPS interviewed by this writer.

By PJTremedal, BNDMisOC-CIB/OCM

Oroquieta City – With a motherly look like her own daughter compassionately conquers the men on the streets in regards with the government campaign against violators of R.A. 4136. The newly created yellow uniformed Lady Enforcers of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) now ruled the streets.

Here in the City of Good Life, Mrs. Carmencita Pangilinan, OIC Traffic Supervisor of LTO-Oroquieta proudly stop and issues Temporary Operators Permit (TOP) to erring drivers/owners of vehicles, motorized tricycles, and motorcycles who always depend in their usual “Nakalimot” (I forgot) with the Traffic Code of the Philippines or otherwise Known as R.A. 4136.

“With the launching of the Lady Enforcers of our office, we have to implement R.A. 4136, in a manner that, like any other law enforcers women can do our best. “ OIC-LTO Traffic Supervisor Pangilinan said.

“We can give this drivers our motherly advise but we can implement the law as men can do too!, as law enforcers, women always fights for the good, like in a family” she adds.

Last September 20, 2010, DOTC-LTO launched the Lady Enforcers nationwide to help and support the department’s campaign on the implementation of R.A. 4136 and other rules and regulation of the Traffic Code of the country.

LTO chief Assistant Secretary Virginia Torres gave the green light to deployed lady traffic enforcers nationwide who will work with their male counterparts from the Traffic Enforcement Division of regional LTOs in ensuring order of traffic flow and safety of motorists.

Torres assured the public that all the lady traffic officers underwent extensive training in determining various traffic violations and in identifying colorum (illegal) vehicles or those public transport units straying out of their designated routes.

“We are hopeful that the presence of our pretty lady enforcers on the street would help prevent usual altercations that often lead to physical clash between hot-headed drivers and male traffic enforcers," said Torres,

Although, the LTO lady traffic enforcers will take an active role in directing traffic and apprehending traffic violators like their male counterparts, they will don a different set of uniform for easy identification on the road.

"We understand women's sensitivity so we designed a uniform that will protect them from the polluted environment and at the same time not limit their physical activities," she said.

With the optimism that the deployment of these lady enforcers should serve as a clear signal to the public of our sincere desire of not only solving perennial traffic problems but also one of our first steps to initiate reforms within the agency.

“We are optimistic that the deployment of these lady enforcers should serve as a clear signal to the public of our sincere desire of not only solving perennial traffic problems but also one of our first steps to initiate reforms within the agency” Assistant Secretary Torres said.

With the directives from the national office, Mrs. Pangilinan said that, “Even my office has only three female employees, two from LTO-Oroquieta while one is a deputized lady enforcers we can do the job.”

This week, with the help of other law enforcers of Oroquieta like the City PNP under P/Supt Paciano Deloso, the LTO Lady Enforcers caught illegally driven vehicles, some drivers has no license at all, they never wear prescribed safety helmets, and other has no franchise, no registration of their vehicles, and other has no safety gadgets in their vehicles.

“Our office here in Oroquieta City will be in the streets every Wednesday of each week to monitor, campaign and implement the rules and regulations of R.A. 4136.” LTO-OIC Pangilinan ended.

WESCOM warns barangay and SK candidates on CPP-NPA extortion activities

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Qualified citizens of the Philippines will once again get to exercise their right to suffrage as the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) is set to hold a synchronized Barangay and SK Elections on October 25 this year by virtue of Republic Act 9340.

But here’s the caveat.

In a press statement, WESCOM Commander Major General Juancho M. Sabban warns that the terrorist/communist groups such as the New People’s Army (NPA) may take advantage of the exercise and see the election period as yet another opportunity for them to extort money from the people, especially from the candidates who will run in the upcoming elections, to fund their illegal activities.

MGen Sabban said NPAs are notorious for their extortion activities during election periods, unlawfully demanding money from candidates to be allowed to run or offering their criminal services to unscrupulous aspiring leaders.

However, MGen Sabban confidently assures the public that the Armed Forces of the Philippines particularly the Western Command, together with the Philippine National Police (PNP), will join the COMELEC in ensuring that, just like the first-ever automated National and Local Elections held only May this year, the upcoming barangay and SK elections will also be peaceful, honest, credible and orderly.

The WESCOM Commander said the Western Command is very much prepared to carry out its duties once deputized by the COMELEC for the Barangay and SK elections.

“Together with the agencies concerned, we will ensure that the coming election will be peaceful and safe and that no unlawful machination to create disruptions and bring disorder to the community will get past us,” MGen Sabban pronounced.

He urges the public to be vigilant and to report to the proper authorities any knowledge they may have regarding the illegal activities of these threat groups.

As one of the measures to ensure the peaceful conduct of the Barangay and SK election, the COMELEC will be implementing a total gun ban policy during the entire election period. The gun ban will be implemented starting September 25 and will be in effect until November 10 this year.

“We will assist the COMELC in implementing this policy to ensure the safety of the public during the election period,” MGen Sabban expressed, noting how successful the policy was in the most recent elections held in lowering down threats during the election period. (6CRGAFP/PIA9-BST)

Almonte, Casing attends CAPDEV Expo 2010

By PJTremedal, BNDMisOC-CIB/OCM

Oroquieta City – With a vision of One Oroquieta: Development and Progress, City Mayor Jason Almonte together with his City Administrator, Engr. Arecio Casing Jr attended last September 22, 2010 DILG organized first ever Capacity Development Forum and Exposition in Cagayan de Oro City.

With its theme: “Creating Synergy in Local governance” the duo was able to plan out what should be the city 5 to 10 years from now. Oroquieta City is capable in its proposed plans and projects that benefits Oroquietanons, given an ample time of visioning and advocating changes with an adaptation of information and modern technology.

It may be recalled that with his father now Congressman of the 1^st District where the city belongs, City mayor Jason P. Almonte opted to follow and finished what his father had started. With the former City Mayor’s agenda J.O.R.G.E. Oroquieta City as the new administration has lay down its objectives and mission, City mayor Almonte moves as it forwards the agenda J.O.R.G.E with innovation to be more realistic in running the local government.

In the said CAPDEV Expo 2010, more or less three hundred participants from various sectors in Northern Mindanao joined the first-ever Capacity Development Expo (CapDev Expo) last September 22 at the Grand Caprice Restaurant in Limketkai Center.

CapDev Expo is organized by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Northern Mindanao in coordination with the Multi-Stakeholders Advisory Committee (MSAC) members of the Local Governance Resource Center(LGRC).

Centered on its theme “Creating Synergy in Local Governance,” the CapDev Expo, becomes a venue for information sharing and strengthening linkages for good local governance.

In the 2010 exposition, The Regional Capacity Development Agenda was presented to the various stakeholders in local governance during the activity, as agreed during the MSAC meeting last August 27, service providers from the government, NGOs, private sector and the academe has given their time to present their appropriate respective programs and services that will address the gaps identified in the CapDev Agenda of the local government units.

DILG Secretary Jessie Robredo who was to speak before the participants did not arrive because of previous commitment, However DILG-10, Regional Director Loreto T. Bhagwani said that the activity hopes to concretize DILG and other government agencies, NGOs and private sector participation for joint efforts at maximizing service delivery with the assistance of civil society organizations and volunteer groups.

Meanwhile, Misamis Oriental Governor Oscar Moreno who attended as a speaker, shares his vision of the province, “Misamis Oriental 2010 moves onwards”.

In an interview, City Mayor Almonte said that, with the CapDev Expo experience, Oroquieta City has all the opportunity to finds means and ways to fulfill his administration agenda for the betterment of the city and Oroquietanons.

Almonte opens City Athletic Meet 2010

By PJTremedal, BNDMisOC-CIB/OCM

Oroquieta City – Hundreds of elementary pupils and High School student’s athletes from the City DepED four (4) Districts gathered once again to participate in the City Division Athletic Meet 2010. Sports and other games will be played at the Oroquieta City sports oval from September 23-25, a three-day sports event to choose who will be going to the next Palarong Pampook (Regional Meet) to represent the City Athletic Division in 2011.

In the opening rites last September 22 after the opening parade around the city, City Mayor Jason Almonte whose power vested on him formally opened the three-day games.

In his message, City Mayor Almonte said that, “Quality education entails total development of a well-being.” He said.

Sports development also includes discipline, sportsmanship and teamwork. “Young as this children are, they need to develop and tone their young muscles through sports.” He added.

In sports, character and values such as honesty and diligence are developed through sports. “Remember this, children and youths, Honesty is the better way to win the gold” Vice Mayor Harry Guantero said, who join the opening rites with his city council to give some inspiration to the athletes .

The City Division is composed of four school districts, of which, Elementary school from the 47 barangays are unified into a district, and unified high schools like the Misamis Occidental National High School, Talairon National High School, Misamis Occidental Science and Technology High School-MOSTHS (former Pines National High School) and the Mobod Integrated High School and a lone private school, the Stella Maris College-Elementary School comprises the City Athletic Division.

With the support from the city government thru its City School Board, OIC-School Superintendent Jonathan dela Peña, cordially give thanks to the City mayor and the City Council for approving the financial support in the amount of P413, 000 pesos for athletes’ meals, sports equipments and other materials to be used in the division athletic meet.

“As I promise to fulfill this new era of sports activities as we see our new breed of athletes, when they face another challenge in their education, I would like to thank the city government for helping and supporting the City Division to improve our department. It is an achievement of the learning process for pupils and students.” Supt. Dela Peña said.

Three sepak takraw players and one runner from the Talairon national High School who participated last year’s Palarong Pambansa in Tarlac, Tarlac namely; Syluin Quilab, Nico pausanos, Rey Francis Dullano and Edcel Calibo lighted the friendship flame and runs around the oval to light the friendship Urn to commence the three-day games, showed the Oroquietanons that in one way or another the city produces good athletes.

The City DepED also introduces to the crowd the result of the Search for Mr. and Miss Oroquieta City Athletic Division Meet 2010, and they are: Mr. Prince Cedrick Becoy and Miss Gwen Rhea Berenguel, both of the Misamis Occidental National High School.

As the opening day ends, Oroquietanons witnessed the four districts participation in their field dance demonstration which was applauded by their parents and other guest and visitors as City Mayor Jason Paredes Almonte opens the City Division Athletic Meet 2010.(with reports from Mae P. Duque, MT News Network)

Barangay and SK Election should be non-partisan...Almonte

By PJTremedal, BND MisOC-CIB/OCM

Oroquieta City – “This coming October 25, 2010 will be the election for our Barangay Officials and the youth sector thru the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and this should be a non-partisan politics”, says City Mayor Jason Almonte.

Almonte who runs for the Lakas-Kampi-CMD and won the mayoral candidacy farther reiterated that people must realized that even the barangay is the smallest unit of this government, it doesn’t mean that, in choosing the officials that will run the Barangay will win because of moneyed politics.

The barangay constitute the frontline leadership of the government, it is the peoples strength and every local governance must relates its action, programs, projects and development plans to reach its goals as government for the people, by the people and with the people.

Oroquieta City is composed of 47 barangays, with more or less 49,000 thousand registered voters excluding the new registrants to include the SK’s before the October 25 election.

However, every barangay officials who chooses to run because of the assurance of every chief executives of the locality tends to circumvent COMELEC rules and regulation in order to win and stick with his political inclination and partnership in running the barangay.

Since time immemorial, Barangay Election, even the law says that it is non-partisan, Barangay candidates always go to their political leaders and ask support financially or otherwise because during regular elections this barangays are also used and usually the strength of every political parties in order to win the elections.

So to make it more comfortable, Government leaders usually advocates non-partisan elections, however, in the country it is not so, even election related incidents happens right in every barangay, men of politics always with their sides for political power even after elections.

Non-partisan barangay elections is a misnomer for those who are greed of power but for those wants who good governance, leaders of men would only say, may the best man wins.

MONHS wins Regional S & T Research Papers Contest

By PJTremedal

The Misamis Occidental High School (MONHS) again is proud to let Oroquietanons knows that with the recently held Regional Science and Technology Fair in Cagayan de Oro City garnered prestigious awards and wins three categories in research work.

Mr. Florentino R. Santos Jr. Principal III who led his team to the said S & T Regional fair said that two of the research work by MONHS students got Second place while, the other one wins First Place in its category.

Researchers Frances Gabrielle Reyes, Jason Leroy dela Torre and M. Vincent John Osorio with their adviser Mrs. Rowena A. Jumawan won First Place in Physical Science category when they showed their work entitled: Meiofauna as Bioindicator of Pollution in Murciellagos Bay.

Meanwhile the two categories that won Second Place where: Researcher Kevin Joe B. Miranda with his adviser, Mrs. Melma A. Lendio with his entry for individual category: Accumulation of mercury in mangrove along Contaminated Sites in Baliangao, Misamis Occidental, in Physical Science category.

While Researcher Bronson L. Dulam with adviser, Mr. Pedro M. Gutierrez entitled: Antimitotic Activity of “U-On” Extract on T Gratilla. Dulam won Second Place in the individual Category for Life Science.

As of presstime, Mr. Santos Jr farther said that, The First Place winner will compete in the national Intel-Philippines Science Fair this coming October 30, 2010 at Tagaytay City, while the two other second place winner will join the National Science Quest on February in Sta Cruz, Laguna.

Again, the Misamis Occidental National High School brings the name of the city in this endeavor were, the city government now under the administration of City Mayor Jason P. Almonte is indeed proud.

Bringing good education to Oroquietanons is one of the city mayor’s top agenda.

“We are proud to hear that, again MONHS student prove their worth. This administration will surely promote education, it is the answer of every parents dream to educate their children, and this government has responsibility to educate them too.” The City Mayor said.

OCPO’s best trains for Special Weapons and Tactics

Oroquieta's S.W.A.T. Team trains for readiness and police actions against criminalities.

By PJTremedal, BNDMisOC-CIB/OCM

Oroquieta City , Misamis Occidental – The City PNP finest, The OCPO’s six man SWAT Team has trained for their special weapons and tactics recently to augment and readiness to any untoward incident that might happen in Oroquieta City.

With their OIC City Director initiative to thwart any criminality that need the expertise of a Special Weapons and tactics team, they trained amidst the lack of equipments, weapons and tactics, and experience in handling necessary immediate action in case of emergencies.

P/Supt Paciano Deloso, who himself an expert in crime solution as he was gone abroad to study and one of the country’s UN Police servant in Africa in the 90’s really tried hard to have an expert team to handle delicate police actions.

It may be recalled that during the last Hostage-Taking in manila that ultimately become unfamous because of the result of the tragedy where 8 foreign nationals were killed and hostage taking suspect - former Police Officer, the Philippine National Police was grilled together with other government units to include the media for the responsibility in handling situations like to what had happened.

With this, the police hierarchy was in tremble and accountable and opted to change its image not only in the country but to the world that the Philippine Police amidst lack of experience and equipment is still the force to reckon with.

P/Supt Deloso farther said that, Even our force had been in rumble because of what had happened we in the local, we were not humiliated instead we steadfast to our commitments and trained more to protect the citizenry or any other individual that needs our help.

“Our local police show low morale but we are still proud of our uniforms amidst what happened lately, but we have to prove ourselves again to our mother country and the Philippine National Police.

Late this week, the Oroquieta City Police Force under his OIC stint had to tried to train themselves according to police regulations, the force six-man SWAT Team was re-vigorize and re-engineer to come up with time, even they lack the personnel and equipments and even firearms they train like combatants ready to face uncertainty or death to solve crimes.

“That , is what we are here for, this is our pledge to safeguard our people, because we are the guardians of peace” P/Supt Deloso added.