3,505 permanent shelters turned over to typhoon Pablo victims

NEW BATAAN, Compostela Valley Nov 25 (PIA) Task Force Pablo chair Cabinet Secretary Jose Almendras led the National Housing Authority and local government officials in the provinces of Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental in the distribution of 3,505 houses for the victims of typhoon Pablo in separate turn-over ceremonies in New Bataan, Compostela Valley and Cateel, Davao Oriental, respectively.

A total of 2,967 units were turned over to the affected families in Compostela Valley while 538 housing units were turned over in Cateel, Davao Oriental.

The house and lot package is worth Php220, 000 duplex-type housing in a 60-meter lot, implemented under the rehabilitation program of the NHA.

Almendras said the distribution of houses proves the fact that when both the national government and local government work together, nothing is impossible.

He lauded the leadership of Governor Arthur Uy of Compostela Valley and Governor Corazon Malanyaon of Davao Oriental for spearheading the local efforts in relief and rehabilitation.

Almendras said the national government just made true its commitments after typhoon hit Davao Region to make affected communities become resilient.

“No one would be left behind in the provision of food.  We will help you rebuild and we will help you rebuild your homes,” he said.

He said the national government is so fortunate that it has good partners here from the provincial government down to the municipal and barangay level.

Almendras said the Task Force Pablo was not hard to do because of the cooperation it got from all levels of government.

“Today is a testimony of building back better,” he said.

Compostela Valley Governor Arthur Uy said the turn-over of houses indicates the realization of the government’s commitment to help the victims of the typhoon Pablo, particularly those who lost their homes in the onslaught of the storm in December 2012.

He thanked President Benigno Simeon Aquino III for the completion of the project which has helped those who were displaced by the disaster.

Atty. Chito Cruz, general manager of the NHA assured to provide schools and playgrounds for the housing sites.

He said children must pursue their education close to their new homes.

Mayor Lorenzo Balbin Jr. of New Bataan felt relieved with the provision of new houses for the typhoon victims in his town.

He said looking through the happy faces of the beneficiaries brings joy and is very far from the sad situation during the typhoon’s aftermath.

“I am glad to hear the latest commitment of putting up a new school in Barangay San Roque which has 2,360 new houses.  This site also needs a health center, a basketball court for the residents,” Balbin said.  (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)

DavOr seeks agri-based investments

DAVAO DEL NORTE November 25 (PIA) - - With almost two years of rehabilitation from the devastation made by Typhoon Pablo, the provincial government embarks now on promoting Davao Oriental as haven for agri-based investment.

Gov. Corazon Malanyaon disclosed in an interview on Friday (November 21) that alongside with other developments after Typhoon Pablo, the province revitalized its economy through more investments in agriculture.

“Since we have vast agricultural land, we prioritize agri-based industries as our main investment area in Davao Oriental,” Malanyaon said.

She said that her vision is to have more commercial crops grown in the province particularly oil palm, cacao and coconut.

Malanyaon said that the provincial government encouraged investors to put up big plantations of the said high valued crops in the province.

“With an economy of scale, we can entice also other investors to locate their processing plant in the province,” she said.

She revealed that the provincial government right now is starting to consolidate 4,000 hectares for oil palm plantation.

“The 4,000 hectares is just an initial phase in the oil palm industry in the province. Big players in the said industry have already showed their interest in investing in our province,” she added.

Aside from the agri-based industry, Malanyaon also said that one of their investment priority areas is the eco and rural tourism.

“We are simultaneously developing our various spots in the province and for the next two years, we will be promoting Davao Oriental as eco and rural tourism destination,” she said. (PIA11, Michael Uy)

NHA grants shelters to Typhoon Pablo victims

DAVAO DEL NORTE, November 25 (PIA) - - I am sorry; wala moy bayranan. (You will have no fees).

Deafening claps and roar filled the open tent at the New Bataan Resettlement Project 1, Brgy. San Roque, New Bataan as Task Force Pablo Chief, Sec. Jose Rene Almendras announced that the houses built for the beneficiaries were given to them for free.

“You have been chosen by the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) as ideal beneficiaries of the program therefore you will pay nothing,” Secretary Almendras said.

Almendras added that the DSWD ensured that those who benefited the project were the victims of the typhoon and the ones who really needed the houses.

Secretary Almendras, together with NHA General Manager Chito Cruz, Gov. Arturo Uy and other officials of Compostela Valley province, turned over earlier today 2,967 houses to Typhoon Pablo victims from five towns in the province.

The houses were spread in San Antonio Village, Brgy. Maparat, Compostela with 300 units; Lower Ulip Resettlement Project, Brgy. Poblacion, Monkayo, 443 units; Sariwarain Village, Brgy. Union, Monkayo, 225 units; New Bataan Resettlement Project 1 and 2 in Brgy. San Roque and Andap respectively, both in New Bataan, 1,254 units; Vida Vista 3, Brgy. New Visayas, Montevista, 335 units; and Mont Eagle Ville, Brgy. Kidawa, Laak, 400 units.

Atty. Cruz emphasized that the NHA already handed over 10,105 houses to the typhoon victims in the provinces Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental.

“Before this year ends, we will turn over another 3,750 houses and another 3,347 houses by March 2015,” Cruz said.

Meanwhile, the NHA also turned over on the same day 538 houses to the Pablo victims in three different areas in Cateel, Davao Oriental.

The identified sites were San Alfonso Village, Brgy. San Alfonso with 167 units; San Antonio Village III, Brgy. San Antonio, 289 units; and Cateel Housing Project, Brgy. Taytayan, 82 units.

The shelters built by NHA were duplex-type houses with 22 sq. m. floor area placed in a 60 sq. m. lot. (PIA 11, Michael Uy)

Awareness contributes rising VAWC complaints in Davao City

DAVAO CITY, Nov 24 (PIA) Davao City commemorated Monday the 33th Year of the International Day for the Elimination of the Violence against Women and Children in a simple program at the event center of SM City, Matina.

Lorna Mandin, chief of the Integrated Gender Development Division of the city government said despite spearheading the creation of laws for the protection of women and children in Asia especially Republic Act 9262, violent incidents against women and children still prevail and increase.

She said women’s desk at the local police precincts, local hospitals and even the Office of the City Mayor still receive more complaints about violations of the VAWC law.

“Women are confident that they air their concerns before the city government, line government agencies and the presence of support groups that may give assistance to them,” Mandin said.

She said many women nowadays are already open about their plight on the news television, and in barangay fora.

Mandin said most of the abuses is often related to the familial economy.

“Husbands do not give full support in terms of family subsistence,” she said.

Mandin said wife battery also occurs, but also ranges from 30 to 35 percent of the total number of complaints.

She said that in 2004 a total of 104 cases was recorded but nine years later, in 2013 the cases rose to 1,041 reported VAWC incidents.

“Among these cases, only 10 percent reached the courts,” Mandin said.

She said fear remains a strong factor for women to file cases.

Mandin explained that aside from the expensive filing of charges, the process is also long and tedious.

“Some cases have been pending from five to ten years in court without resolution,” she said.

Mandin said that being a monitoring and coordinative body, the IGDD provides legal services to the complainants.

She said those who need jobs or livelihood are referred to the City Social Services and Development for training, financial capital and jobs.

“Complainants tend to set aside their personal welfare relative to philandering husbands.  They are often after the economic support due to their children,” Mandin said.  (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)

The Bangsamoro is for all, says GPH legal rep

A member of the government’s legal team stressed that Mindanao’s pursuit of peace is not simply a Moro agenda, but called for everyone to stake their claim in the process for it to succeed.

“Ang usapin ng Bangsamoro ay hindi lang para sa Bangsamoro. Ito ay usapin din ng mga taga-Luzon, ng mga taga-Visayas (The discussion on the Bangsamoro is not for the Bangsamoro alone. It is also a discussion for those in Luzon and in Visayas),” said Atty. Mohammad Al-Amin Julkipli at the Bangsamoro Peace Festival held at the Cebu Provincial Capitol. Around 400 university students from across Cebu were in attendance.

The theme of the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro between the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Julkipli said, is very meaningful. “Kaya nga (that is why) ‘Nagkakaisang bayan para sa kapayapaan'—because it calls for greater cooperation from all stakeholders."

Julkipli invited all those in attendance to “become partners in the peace process.” “Participate in scrutinizing the law to improve it,” he said.

The Bangsamoro Peace Festival was spearheaded by the 2014 graduates of the Academy of Political Management (APM), a leadership training course funded by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES). The event sought to engage youth groups in a dialogue on the proposed BBL, as well as to showcase Bangsamoro history and culture. It coincided with ongoing public consultations on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) by both Houses of Congress in different parts of the country.

Speaking on behalf of the APM graduates, event program manager Tasneem Abdulrauf noted the importance of making the proposed BBL a national conversation “as it is a law anchored on the goal to bring peace and progress in the country for all Filipinos.”

Abdulrauf also stressed the need for open-mindedness in analysing the substance and spirit of the proposed law. “While there are fears for moves to change the status quo, let us seek to understand how these changes will be beneficial to us; how it is for the common good and for our collective future.”

Fellow APM alumnus Garie Rigor emphasized on creating avenues for dialogues for better understanding of issues affecting the country. “As progressives, we as APM alumni believe that Filipinos all around the country are stakeholders in the success of the peace and development efforts in Mindanao,” Rigor added.

The FES, in a statement, noted that the essence of the Bangsamoro Peace Festival is to inculcate “the crucial value of openness that can further our enthusiasm to be inclusive—in this context, that an all-inclusive Bangsamoro is possible.” “Let us not confuse, but rather be clear and proud of our intention to recognize the aspirations of the Bangsamoro people. There is no other time to show our utmost support for the Bangsamoro and the peace process, but now.” (OPAPP)