OroquietaCity – with big dreams and enthusiasm to develop potential tourism project and program to promote the City of Good Life, and as one of its priority in his administration agenda, City Mayor Jason Paredes Almonte has initiated the reorganization of the City Tourism Council.
Thru Sanggunian Panlungsod member and Chair of the Committee on Tourism, SP Ruvy Ala together with her colleagues and with the approval of the City mayor to re-organized the Tourism Council elects its new officer pursuant to the Tourism Code of the city as amended.
As Honorary Chairperson, City Mayor Jason P. Almonte called the election thru the SP Chair, Hon Ruvy Ala after a re-organizational meeting late this month. Elected Chair is the mayor’s wife, Mrs. Ivy Gomonit-Almonte, while the Vice Chairperson is Hon. Ruvy Ala herself to help the chairperson.
While two SP members were elected to seat as members of the Board of Directors of the council to represent the Government Sector. The City Tourism Council composes 40 percent from the government sector while 60 percent comes from the private sector.
Hon. Henry Regalado will handle the marketing and promotion of the council while Hon. Richard Villabert will lead the council standardization and accreditation committee. DepED City Superintendent Jonathan dela Peña was chosen to handle the Sports and Recreation Committee while Mr. Gilbert Roa takes over the Culture and Arts Committee.
Other members of the Council Board were, PENRO Dennis Leopoldo for Eco-Tourism, and Oroquieta City Chamber of Commerce Mr. Eric Avila will be in-charge of the Research and Development. City Tourism Officer jay Lorenzo will be the Secretary and mrs. Dina Bulawan of the GSO takes seats as the council treasurer while Ramonito Aca-ac of the PETAL’s Foundation will act as the council auditor.
The City Tourism Council was re-organize to flagship the city’s agenda on tourism development and its cultural heritage as stepping stone to be in the map of Philippine Tourism.
However, on the celebration of41st “Cabezera” Day, The city’s founding years the City Tourism Council will be invited as the city government has already planned out next years activities.
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos-Deles on Thursday said that the ceasefire agreement that has been holding well in Mindanao is the best testament to the government forces’ commitment to peace.
“Marahil ay isang patunay ng katapatan ng ating mga sundalo at pulis sa kapayapaan ay ang ceasefire agreement sa gitna ng gobyerno at ng MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) na maayos na ipinapatupad sa Mindanao ng maraming taon na (Perhaps, the ceasefire agreement between the government and the MILF is a testament to our police and soldiers’ commitment to peace),” she stated during her opening address todayat the Mindanao Peace Process Dialogue held at Camp Crame, Quezon City.
Deles expressed hope that the ceasefire with the communist forces will also hold well.
“Inaasahan natin na ganoon rin magiging ganap ang “Christmas Ceasefire” sa gitna ng gobyerno at ng NPA (New People’s Army) na magsisimula sa ika-16 ng Disyembre (We hope that the Christmas Ceasefire between the government and the NPA beginning Dec. 16 will also be carried out),” she said.
The peace adviser lauded the “men and women in uniform” for putting the primacy of the peace process as they go about their work on the ground.
She related government chief negotiator Marvic Leonen’s experience in visiting some of the military commanders in Mindanao as encouraging as he has “personally seen and heard” how many of military and police forces “echo the primacy of the peace process as an overarching policy – even a battlecry.”
“Matatawag natin ang isa’t-isa bilang mga partners in building peace, kalakip hindi lamang ang pagtitiwala at katapatan, kung di ang karangalan (We can call each other partners in building peace, not just with confidence and sincerity, but with pride),” she told representatives of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) attending the dialogue.
Deles stressed how important is building peace on the ground and in the communities. “Naniniwala ako na ito ay isang bagay na maaari nating pagtulung-tulungan (I believe that this is another area where we can work together) – close the gap between what happens at the negotiating table and what happens in the communities affected by conflict,” she said.
“We believe that these efforts will help to provide an environment conducive for the talks and help gain support and trust of all the stakeholders in the peace process,” Deles stated, hoping that dialogue partners on the other side of the negotiating table will agree to work with the government and other stakeholders to bring development to communities while building common ground to end the roots of armed conflict.
The Mindanao Process Dialogue aims to enhance the inter-operability as well as the relationship between the PNP, AFP and OPAPP by arriving at a common understanding of the overall peace and order situation in Mindanao and Palawan.
The dialogue likewise intends to guide the government security forces in enhancing their strategies in the region, as well as provide the peace panel general issues that need to be considered on the negotiating table.
Also in attendance were Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Sec. Jesse Robredo; National Security Council (NSC) adviser Cesar Garcia, Jr.; Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Raul Calabzo; peace panel Chair Marvic Leonen; andpanel members Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer and Mayor Ramon Piang, Sr.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Tuesday urged consumers to be vigilant in buying Christmas lights, most of which do not bear the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) mark that ensures the quality of the product.
DTI officials said consumers are encouraged to look for the brands of Christmas lights that have passed the required safety tests based on the Philippine National Standards (PNS) 189:2000 with the ICC numbers issued from 2008 to 2010.
Under DTI-BPS (Bureau of Product Standard) product certification scheme, a regulated product or a product covered by mandatory certification is submitted to the BPS Testing Center or any BPS-recognized laboratory for a series of tests, prior to its distribution or sale in the market.
DTI Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya said no sets of Christmas lights with Philippines Standard mark can be found in the market since the DTI-BPS has not awarded PS license to any manufacturer since 2007.
Maglaya said the DTI central office has declared that only those importers issued ICC certificates from 2008 to the present can sell Christmas lights with ICC marks.
Those products with ICC marks have passed the four mandatory requirements for critical parameters that include torque temperature rise, wire tests, and ball pressure.
Aside from the ICC marks, consumers should also look for required labels like the rated voltage at rated wattage set and lamp, Christmas lights number standards, importer’s or distributor’s name, address, and trademark, Maglaya added.
She also said buyers have to be very cautious in buying Christmas lights because substandard products may cause overheating, short circuits, and electric shock that may also lead to fires, loss of lives and damaged properties.
As of Nov. 3, the DTI-BPS has issued ICC certificates to only 20 distributors/importers of 31 brands to use and place ICC marks on their Christmas lights products.
Among the certified brands are Golden Hit Corporation, Ikhea Lighting Inc., P&J Multitrade Venture Inc., Sheratone Industries, Inc., Shining East Marketing Corporation and Wexford International Sales Inc. (PNA/PIA0-BST)
Malacañang - President Benigno Simeon Aquino III on Tuesday assured the people of Mindanao of his support by pushing measures that will make the southern island a “Land of fulfilled promises”.
The President issued the assurance at the presentation of “Mindanao 2020,” a peace and development framework plan expected to be fulfilled in 20 years, 2011 to 2030.
“I am here to serve you, not boss you around. Mindanaoans are also my boss just as every citizen in every part of the archipelago,” Aquino said.
Two key advocacy groups from Mindanao, the Mindanao Lawmakers Association (MLA) and the Confederation of Provincial Governors, City Mayors and Municipal Mayors League Presidents (CONFED-Mindanao), through a joint resolution, presented the program to President Aquino today in Malacañang.
The program envisions the people of Mindanao from all cultural and socio-economic backgrounds to attain a sustainably uplifted quality of life through collective achievement of a peaceful, developed and integrated Mindanao.
Witnessing the program presentation were various Mindanao stakeholder groups from the business sector, local government, civil society, youth, peace and development advocates and donor agencies.
The key projects to be delivered in Mindanao are in the fields of infrastructure, agriculture, peace and security and poverty alleviation, among others.
“We will ensure that appropriate intervention is immediately targeted and sent to highly-impoverished and vulnerable areas. Mindanao will be at the core of our social development and poverty alleviation program, such as the Conditional Cash Transfer program”, the President said.
The President said that long-term programs are being set for internally displaced persons in cooperation with development partners such as the European Commission.
To capitalize the agricultural strengths of the region, the government will push for the agricultural development of Mindanao by transforming it into a modern agricultural center and the nation’s food basket.
Also part of the government’s programs is the harnessing of the halal industry, particularly in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) area, making Mindanao the food processing hub of the country and its neighboring nations in the Asean.
Peace being the foundation of progress, the President said he will not rest unless solutions are found for the problem of armed conflict in the region.
“Our administration is facing the challenges head-on, so that we can create a unified peaceful Philippines where our citizenry can fulfill their dreams and where the nightmare of conflict is a thing of the past,” President Aquino said. “Mindanao will be the land of promises fulfilled.”
In infrastructure development, the Chief Executive said he will be directing the director-general of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) to study the feasibility of placing a central airport to make it more economically sensible.
President Aquino called on the people of Mindanao to cooperate among themselves for the realization of the said developmental project at the soonest possible time.
“Undoubtedly there will be a lot of tensions as to where to actually site this central airport. I promise you, you cooperate with each other that will be a reality sooner rather than later,” the President said. (PCOO/PIA9-BST)
OzamizCity – When Task Force USIG of the Philippine National Police was organized to investigate media killings, harassment and other crimes committed against media practitioners and filed cases in the courts, from 2000-2010, TF USIG reported that they had investigated 39 cases involving work related atrocities against the media.
As mandated by higher headquarters, with the leadership of the new PNP Chief, not only the Task force was directed to help and solve media atrocities’ but the whole PNP units, especially the PNP Public Community Relations.
In Misamis Occidental, late this week, 30 media practitioners from Ozamiz, Tangub and Oroquieta cities found themselves trained by the police on Personal Security measures for Media practitioners with the theme; “Personal Security while at work.”
In his opening message, Provincial Director P/SSupt Robert G. Quenery said that personal security does not depend on police alone but “one’s security depends on oneself”. He said.
With its ratio 1 policeman to every 1,000 individuals, media practitioners is hard enough to be secured by the police, so it is but necessary that each media personality must also secured themselves as what the seminar workshop had pointed out.
With the Provincial Intelligence Officer as lecturer, P/Supt. Wilbur M. Salaguste explained to the media why and what to do in case of threats and other harassment, but to secure firstly, each media practitioners should practice the learn lesson on safety measures to be adopted.
Quoting the Art of War, “Knowing your enemy and know yourself, in the thousand battle you will be in the peril” started the day of the activity where the media participants focused on the lecturer who shared the do’s and don’ts on Personal Security, Threat Assessment, At Home, the family, how to detect surveillance, and each security during at work and in the workplace.
In the said seminar-workshop, the participants then ask questions to the lecturer while imparting words of wisdom to be adopted and learned by the media practitioners.
P/Supt Salaguste reminded the participants that, during the pre-attack surveillance that a realistic chance of detect, deter as neutralize an attack exists. And always ask the question, “If I was doing surveillance on myself, where would I be?
The seminar-workshop ended with satisfaction as the PNP MisOC PCR Officer, P/Supt Susan O Guigue thanks the participation of the media practitioners and strengthening the relationship of the media and the police is a priority as they would be partners in peace and development.
Calamba, Misamis Occidental---To those that failed to sign contract on Independent Power Producers (IPPs) for the supply of electric power will face power curtailment between 3-4 hours starting on Sunday, November 28, 2010 as electric coops officials galvanized to act because the government-owned Mindanao hydropower complexes can only generate 700 megawatts to supply the 32 electric cooperatives in Mindanao including private utilities that operated in urban cities in the island.
This developed when the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) sent an advisory to private power utilities and electric cooperative that starting on November 28, 2010, Sunday, they will impose 3-4 hours power curtailment because the hydropower complexes particularly, the Agus and Pulangi hydros have no enough power to supply the Mindanao Grid which needed more that 1,200 megawatts of electric power.
Due to the said “ADVISORY” representatives of the Aboitez-owned Therma Marine Incorporated (TMI) which owned Power Barge 117 and 118 toured whole Mindanao to convince electric cooperatives in signing contracts for the supply of electric power coming their 2 power barges which ironically are the only bunker fuel-operated power barges in the island.
The continued supply of electric power will cost electric consumers 82 centavos in their electric bills.
“Electric consumers should choose the additional 82 centavos power hike in December or 3-4 hours brownout,” a top official of the Misamis Occidental I Electric Cooperative (MOELCI I) said, adding that the 82 centavos in not for MOELCI I but for the payment of the services of Therma Marine’s Power Incorporated (TMI) Barges 117 and 118.
Therma Marine Incorporated is the controversial supplier of electric power for ancillary services during the massive brownout on December 2009 to May 2010 that billed electric cooperatives with a whooping $78 million.
The NGCP contracted TMI to supply the ancillary services to electric cooperatives and private utilities for 6 months resulting for the $78 million power bills.
The Association of Mindanao Rural Electric Cooperatives (AMRECO) filed series of cases against NGCP-TMI in what they believed misrepresentation to the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) leading to the issuance of the Provisional Authority (PA) to collect the ancillary services at the tone of 96 centavos per kilowatt hour.
Some electric cooperatives filed separate cases against NGCP-TMI for the said unreasonable and astronomical power rates adding that NGCP has no legal personality because its job is for transmission and not generation. The National Power Corporation/Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM) which owned the generation should have been the right agency to contract TMI for the ancillary services.
The said incident galvanized electric cooperatives in speeding up their individual mini and mega hydropower plant projects so that in the future they will not be guillotine by independent power producers like the TMI when power crisis arise.
Meanwhile, a power consumer group in Mindanao alleged that TMI earned 3 times more than the price of buying power barge 117 and 118 which according to them had been purchased for $27 million from the government.
Government chief negotiator Alexander Padilla said last Friday that now is the best time to find a political settlement with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) who have been waging the armed struggle for the past 41 years.
“The best time is now because it’s a new administration. It is done at the beginning of the term, not at the end. There is no political agenda, no coming elections,” Padilla stated during the Communication and News Exchange Forum with government media held at the Conference Room of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
The panel chair added that these are clear signals to the NDF that the government is sincere and serious in pursuing a peaceful solution to the conflict.
“This is what we want to project to the NDF. We hope they see it in that light,” Padilla said.
He earlier announced in Malacañang that the government and the NDF have agreed to observe a “Christmas ceasefire” beginning December 16 until January 3 following a two-day informal chair-to-chair meeting in Hong Kong.
Padilla said that he and panel member Pablito Sanidad met with NDF chair Luis Jalandoni, Consuelo Ledesma and their counsel with no preconceived agenda.
He also related that the two parties are eyeing to conduct another round of exploratory talks on the 2nd week of January to set the agenda and lay ground rules for the resumption of peace talks on the 3rd week of February next year.
Padilla revealed that the January and February talks will focus on the socio-economic and political-constitutional reforms, which are two of the four substantive agenda items laid down by both parties.
The other two include the end of hostilities and disposition of forces, and human rights and international humanitarian law, of which the result was the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL).
Padilla said that the government is not demanding the surrender of the CPP-NPA-NDF.
“We want to find a political settlement with them. All done within the mandate of the Constitution and in consultation with Sec. (Teresita) Deles and the President,” he stated.
OroquietaCity – 47 elected Barangay Chairmen of Oroquieta recently takes oath together with their Barangay councilors and Sanggunian Kabataan (SK) officials to City Mayor Jason P. Almonte before they start assuming their post to their respective barangays.
On 12 O’clock noon of November 30, all Barangay and SK Officials will assume their post pursuant to R.A. 7160 or otherwise known the 1991 Local Government Code, Book III which specifies the functions and duties of barangays and SK officials.
As the basic political unit, the Barangay serves as the primary planning and implementing unit of government policies, plans, programs, projects, and activities in the community, and as a forum wherein the collective views of the people may be expressed, crystallized and considered, and where disputes may be amicably settled.
Last November 30, 2010, the 47 barangays of Oroquieta City and their elected Barangays and SK officials who wins the October 25, 2010 Election takes oath before City Mayor Jason P. Almonte who send a message of unity after they takes their oath before they assumes office.
City Mayor Jason Paredes Almonte who performs the oath taking ceremonies said that with his administration one thing must be done to maintain good relationship not because he will be the administrator of the 47 barangays but to be partners for development and progress.
City Mayor Almonte used the Pacquiao-Margarito boxing fight as an example of good winners. Almonte wishes that all elected Barangay chairman are like Pacquiao winning the 6 rounds with influence but they have still to finish round 6 to 12, and this time partnership with the city government is a must.
As partners each Barangay must priorities and planned the development of their barangays with the help and support or counterpart from its partner the City Government. What the Barangay has planned for the betterment of each Barangay, the outcome is what will be the kind of city government Oroquieta will be.
City Mayor Almonte farther said that, His administration will focus on infrastructures and livelihood projects for each Barangay and wishes that each Barangay Chairman together with the Barangay Council will have one direction with the city government.
Meanwhile, Governor Hermie Ramiro who was ably represented by Board Member
Edwin Florida of the province’s Second District that with her GO HERMIE agenda, transparent Barangay government with proper consultation and people’s participation is her wish for the each Barangay officials to perform
.
Every Barangay and SK officials must be honest enough to become public servants, with it, each Barangay will be progressive and achieved development because of honest officials. BM Florida said.
Meantime, Congressman Jorge Taghap Almonte of the 1st District thru his representation, Atty. Marlo Bancoro made emphasis on three points that the congressman wants, firstly, Barangay should be united with the rest of the government units. Second, every barangays must organize each development councils that can priorities direction to what the Barangay wants and needs, and thirdly, people empowerment.
Atty. Bancoro also stressed that the representative of the first district, Congressman Almonte will share equitably his CDF to all Barangay and towns of his district.
Dakak resort, Dapitan City - The three-day 15th National Press Congress starts Sunday, Dec. 5 at the Dakak Park & Beach Resort in Dapitan City, under the auspices of the Publishers Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PAPI).
“Media: Reengineering Tourism and Climate Change Initiatives” will be the theme of the biggest gathering of the community press this year.
Some 200 publishers, broadcasters, editors, commentators, columnists, media executives, press club officers and members, Filipino journalists working abroad, writers, college editors, advisers, information officers, on-line journalists and other mass communication practitioners.
Among those scheduled to address the media event are Secretary Sonny Coloma of the Presidential Communication Operations Office (PCOO), Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim, Albay Gov. Joey Mesina, Zamboanga del Norte Gov. Rolando Yebes, National press Club president Jerry Yap, Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Cecile Guidote Alvarez, Zamboanga del Norte Congressman Frederick Seth Bullet Jalosjos, Dapitan Mayor Dominador Jalosjos, Jr.;
Former Congressman Romeo “Nonong” Jalosjos, media multi-award winner Rey Langit of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkasters sa Pilipinas (KBP); GMA anchor lady Claire Delfin, Broadcaster Allan Sison, interim president of the newly-reactivated Federation of Provincial Press Clubs of the Philippines (FPPCP); former Press Undersecretary Butch Junia, Dr. Jacqueline Badcock, representative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Dapitan City Councilor Aana Marie “Apple” Agolong.
Aside from series of round table discussions, symposia, workshops and cultural shows, a whole-day tour of Dapitan and interesting sights of Zanorte will also be conducted under auspices of the City government of Dapitan and the province of Zamboanga del Norte.
BUTUAN CITY (PNA) - Beleaguered mining firm San Roque Metals Inc (SRMI) which operates some 579 hectares of nickel mines in the coastal town of Tubay, Agusan del Norte said local government units of Tubay and the province’ claim that they owe the provincial government some P120-M representing extraction fees, surcharges and penalties was too much and illegal.
San Roque Metals Inc. Board of Director Edgar Erice told newsmen at press conference here Friday afternoon that there is no such thing as extraction fees for large scale mining operators like them saying that under Mining Act of 1995 the total government share in a Mineral Production Sharing Agreement or MPSA is Excise Tax on Mineral Products not extraction fees.
“Their continuing clamor for us to pay such huge amount has no legal basis because it is not provided by law as provided by the Mining Act or R.A. 7942 which governed all LGUs in the country hosting mining companies” Erice who is a lawyer by profession, former Caloocan Congressman and now Caloocan City Vice Mayor.
Erice added that since SRMI already pay Excise Tax to the national government as provided by law, it would be double taxation if SRMI pay again to the local government.
“It seems that we only exist and tire ourselves all the while for mining only to pay all these caprices of government taxes and fees and nothing for our hundreds of workers who toiled much for SRMI”. Erice said.
Erice claimed that collection of extraction fees is for small-scale while large scale mining or holders of MPSA had to pay national government through Excise Tax
Erice added that while LGUs are empowered by the Local Government Code to adjust rates of taxes, it also has its limits saying that tax adjustments can only be done once in every five years but only ten percent of the tax rates as fixed by National Internal Revenue Code and local government code.
The Agusan del Norte Provincial Government in October 11, 2004 passed an ordinance otherwise known as Provincial Ordinance 195-2006 stating that mineral products extracted from the province like Manganese, Chromite, Bauxite, Iron ore and other metallic minerals shall be charged extraction or mining fee of P12.00 per metric ton.
Less than two years later on March 27, 2006, the province enacted another ordinance increasing mining fees to P25.00.
Again on October 8, 2007, Provincial Ordinance 223-2007 was enacted to amend 2006 ordinance which added provisions that extraction fees of P25.00 per metric ton will be collected from large-scale mining for metallic minerals.
Erice said such ordinance was made basis of the LGU to demand collection from SRMI amounting to P119, 943, 607.49 or nearly P120-M as extraction fees.
“Authors of the 2006 and 2007 ordinances failed to take into account as provided by the Local Government Code the limit to adjust tax rates to only once in every five years but in no case shall tax adjustments will not exceed ten percent of the rates fixed by the code”, Erice added.
Erice further adds that while Mining Act of 1995 provide cost for Social Development Projects for host and affected communities from one percent of the direct mining and milling costs, SRMI spend for corporate social responsibility more than what is required by law.
Erice maintained that even the mineral ore market price is an on and off basis, SRMI continued to generate or provide jobs to nearly 500 workers or people and spend more than ten percent of its income for environmental protections, work enhancement and community building projects worth millions of pesos. (PNA/Ben Serrano)
