MOAP Board tackled issues to continue as Economic Enterprise

By PJTremedal,BND-MisOcc/CIB-OCM

Oroquieta City- The new administration of Governor Herminia M. Ramiro called recently the Board of Directorsof the Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park (MOAP) in Sinacaban, Misamis Occidental to thresh out issues and concern to include the proposed privatization of the park or continuing it as an economic enterprise of the provincial government.

It may be recalled that during the administration of now Congressman of the 2^nd District, former Governor Leo Loreto Ocampos, in 2005 said park was established to cater to the environmental and tourism development needs of the province to promote and be recognized as a tourist destination.

With Resolution No. 067-04, Governor Leo Loreto Ocampos was authorized to enter into contract with private investor in January 2004, and by February 1, 2007 a supplemental provision was added in the MOA between BFAR, PGMO and Mr. Foad Akhavan of USASIA Corp which embodied a profit sharing scheme of 30 percent for the province in its annual net income and the Local Government Unit of Sinacaban will be shared another 30 percent from the province share.

The Office of the Governor find means to finance the said project thru a Trust Fund system with the asset acquisition of more or less 35-M to include a mini zoo, hotel and function rooms, restaurant, and other fix and features to make it as a government run facility for tourist attraction and destination.

As it becomes an attraction of the province it operates as it is mandated by its policies, MOAP has agreed to be opened to private investors in financing and establishing more attraction like the Dolphin Island which is under operation of Mr. Faod of USASIA Corporation as he was the private investor granted by the MOAP.

As of August 31,2010, Mr. Foad has initiated a cost of asset acquisition worth 16.275-M. MOAP becomes a tourist destination people all around the province and nearby cities and towns begin to visit the place and it become a name promoting Misamis Occidental first eco-aqua tourism destination. With its Dolphin Island, MOAP become more interesting to visit and enjoyable to see as it progress into a place of learning and recreation.

Late this week, Governor Hermie Ramiro as she wants to strengthen her GO HERMIE Agenda decided to call the board to tackle issues regarding MOAP’s privatization or to continue its operating system as embodied in its governing policies as an economic enterprise of Misamis Occidental government.

In the COA record, as it was presented by Mrs. Helen Tenchavez, Provincial Accountant, MOAP from 2005 to 2009 and January to June 2010 operation netted only to some 14.44-M as it is manifested in its Report of Operation of 96.33-M less the Report of Expenses of 82.19-M.

The visual presentation was indeed accepted by the Board but questions surface whether MOAP has really income as it was expected, breakeven or MOAP encountered losses against its capitalization.

In the meeting, the board decided to extend its operation for six months to monitor whether or not MOAP will gain with its recommendations of refurbishing, restructuring and rehabilitation of some features and fixtures and other plans to sustain MOAP as an economic enterprise.

As an economic enterprise of the provincial government, the board also recommended to create a separate Bids and Awards Committee, separate Human Resource Management, as it was learned that asset acquisition and hiring of personnel is charge with the province from 2005 up to this report.

With the recommendation, the provincial government will continue to subsidized MOAP as an economic enterprise, however, its management will be definitely different from the provincial government operations.

NPA rebel surrenders through parents’ help

ZAMBOANGA CITY - A member of the communist New People’s Army surrendered to the military authorities of the Army’s 35^th Infantry Battalion at Barangay Daan Campo, Magsaysay, Lanao del Norte last October 21, the 4^th Civil Relations Group of the AFP based in this city announced.

The press statement released to PIA said that 1Lt Aldwin G Cortez PA, Commanding officer of the Alpha Company, 35^th IB identified the rebel as Elmer T Bucog aka Arnel, a member of an NPA medical team operating in the area.

Lt Cortez disclosed that the suspected rebel returnee was said to have been recruited by Mercy Maghinay aka Genevieve Maghinay who was the secretary of the movement operating at Barangay Durano, Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte and was captured by military operatives in 2006.

Prior to the surrender of Elmer, operatives of the 35^th IB diligently pursued the negotiation through cell phone call and text messages. His parents also played important role in Elmer’s surrender who pleaded him to surrender to clear his name and eventually live normal life, Lt Cortez added.

Meanwhile, Lt colonel Gamal S Hayudini PAF, Group Commander of the 4^th Civil Relations Group, Civil Relations Service, Armed Forces of the Philippines disclosed that the government’s program of reconciliation for rebel returnees continue.

A rebel returnee will benefit from this reconciliation program by receiving immediate assistance of P20, 000.00 and livelihood assistance of P50, 000.00.

If the rebel returnee surrenders with firearms, he will also get benefits from the Balik Baril Program.

Different agencies of the government like the DSWD, DOLE, and TESDA are also involved in the training of rebel returnees to develop their skills and make use of the livelihood assistance and become useful members of the society.

Lt Colonel Hayudini further said that in the year 2009 and in the middle of 2010, hundreds of communist rebel returnees have underwent skills development training and is successful in their endeavor. (PIA9-BST)

Local officials laud AFP/PNP for successful Brgy/SK polls

Local officials from the different areas under Western Mindanao Command’s area of operations laud the efforts of the AFP/PNP for the peaceful and successful conduct of Brgy and Sangguniang Kabataan elections yesterday 25 October 2010.

The nationwide poll was generally successful as number of election related violence has relatively decreased compared to the 2007 brgy/SK elections.

This is the result of the intensified check and choke points conducted by the armed forces and the police. More so, the election gun ban and liquor ban being implemented have greatly helped in the reduction of violence. says Lt Colonel Gamal S Hayudini PAF, Group Commander of the 4th Civil Relations Group, Civil Relations Service, Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Likewise, the augmentation of the police as board of election inspectors resolved the problem in lack of teachers especially in remote areas during the elections has significantly helped during the elections. the official added.

Thus, it is heartwarming that our forces’ efforts were acclaimed by not only of the local officials but most especially by the civilians who practiced their right of suffrage during the elections. Hayudini said.

As deputized agency by the COMELEC, it is the duty and responsibility of the AFP and PNP not only to secure the public from violence but as well as protect their votes to ensure honest, orderly and peaceful elections.

Meanwhile in Misamis Occidental with its 2 congressional District, PNP Provincial Director P/SSupt Robert Quenery in an interview with this Onlinenews-Mindanao said and confirmed that no untowards incident or election related violations had been reported in his office.

It may be recalled during the MisOCC-COMELEC Joint Coordinating Committee met with Directorate for Integrated Police Operations (DIPO) Eastern Mindanao Chief, Police General Catalino Panganiban and Regional Director Renato Magbutay of COMELEC 10 discussess proposals and possible action on the Barangay and SK Election should not be taken for granted for this is a pre-positioning of the 2013 Local and National Elections.

With the deputization of the AFP and the PNP, Misamis Occidental PNP provincial Command assures COMELEC and the people that they will do what they have to do to achieve an Honest,Orderly,Peaceful Elections.

In his message, PNP-DIPO-Eastern Mindanao Chief said in Tagalog, "Kayo ang Boss namin, magtulungan tayo upang makamit ang eleksyon na magiging peaceful and orderly" He said.(4CRG/PIA9-BST)

NPA rebel surrenders

A member of the communist New People’s Army surrendered to the military authorities of the Army’s 35th Infantry Battalion at Brgy Daan Campo, Magsaysay, Lanao del Norte on 21 October 2010.

1Lt Aldwin G Cortez PA, Commanding officer of the Alpha Company, 35th IB identified the rebel as Elmer T Bucog aka Arnel, a member of an NPA medical team operating in the area.

Lt Cortez disclosed that the suspect rebel returnee was recruited by Mercy Maghinay aka Genevieve Maghinay was the secretary of the movement operating at Brgy Durano, Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte and was captured by military operatives in 2006.

Prior to the surrender of Elmer, operatives of the 35th IB diligently pursued the negotiation through cell phone call and text messages. His parents also played important role in Elmer’s surrender who pleaded him to surrender to clear his name and eventually live normal life. Lt Cortez added.

Meanwhile, Lt colonel Gamal S Hayudini PAF, Group Commander of the 4th Civil Relations Group, Civil Relations Service, Armed Forces of the Philippines disclosed that the government’s program of reconciliation for rebel returnees continue.

A rebel returnee will benefit from this reconciliation program by receiving immediate assistance of P20, 000.00 and livelihood assistance of P50, 000.00.

If the rebel returnee surrenders with firearms, he will also get benefits from the Balik Baril Program.

Different agencies of the government like the DSWD, DOLE, and TESDA are also involved in the training rebel returnees to develop their skills and make use of the livelihood assistance and become useful members of the society.

Lt Colonel Hayudini further said that year 2009 and middle of 2010, hundreds of communist rebel returnees have underwent skills development training and are successful in their endeavor. (4CRG/PIA9-BST)