Cops, soldiers urged to be more vigilant against rebel abductions

DAVAO CITY, April 3 (PIA) Members of the police and military have been warned to be wary of their security especially in distinguishing checkpoints run by government forces and by the rebels when travelling in a conflict-affected areas.

Senior Superintendent Aaron Aquino, chief of staff of the Police Regional Office XI issued the reminder to prevent the recurrence of abduction of police officers and soldiers by the communist rebels.

He said government forces must remember that checkpoints set up by either the police or military have marked vehicles, with soldiers wearing  full-military uniform with Kevlar helmets and vests and a KM truck if it is a check point by the soldiers and a marked police vehicle or mobile patrol with members in full police uniform if it is manned by the police.

“Police in the municipal stations must be more security conscious of their surroundings especially when they are mobile.  There is also a need to conduct real time coordination with the military to be sure that the ones manning a checkpoint are genuine policemen and soldiers,” Aquino said. 

He said PO1 Ruben Nohapa is the second policeman to be abducted and released by the rebels this year following P01 Rowel Pasion who was also abducted and freed by the rebels.

He also thanked Acting Mayor Rodrigo Duterte for facilitating the release of PO3 Ruben Nohapa, Jr., a member of the Nabunturan Police Station who was abducted by the rebels in a checkpoint at Barangay Anislagan, Nabunturan, Compostela Valley.

Nohapa was released by the rebels to the International Committee on the Red Cross, then to  Duterte, the members of the Sowing the Seeds for Peace and to his family in Barangay Nuevo Iloco, Mawab, Compostela Valley on April 2, 15 days after he was abducted on March 18.

Aquino said Nohapa is undergoing follow up medical treatment at the Regional Health Service.

He said Nohapa will also undergo debriefing, then he will be given the opportunity to spend time with his family before given a new assignment. (PIA XI-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)

Davao Light assures stable power during election day

DAVAO CITY, April 3 (PIA) The power utility firm Davao Light and Power Company assured that the supply of electricity in Davao City and other service areas like Panabo City and Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte will remain stable even beyond the election period, despite the power curtailment being observed in other areas in Mindanao due to power shortage.

Speaking at the Club 888 business forum at the Marco Polo Hotel, Ross Luga,  Assistant Vice-President  of the Davao Light said they expect a low demand of electricity during the Election Day since it will be a holiday.

He said many offices and big industrial companies are usually closed on holidays so the demand for power on May 13 will reduce and will be enough to support the power needed in the conduct of the elections.

Luga said that even with the rotating brownouts imposed in other areas in Mindanao, Davao Light will ensure that its service areas will have continued supply of electricity.

He revealed the power sources of the Davao Light such as the run-off river power source of the Hedcor Power Corporation in Barangay Sibulan, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur which provides 45.2 megawatts, Therma-Marine Incorporated power barge in Maco, Compostela Valley that gives 30 megawatts, and the standby diesel-powered plant in Bajada which can provide an average of 40 megawatts.

Luga said they also have collaboration with large industrial companies under the interruptible load program.

“Should there be a time that we lack power, we will request the large industrial companies to operate their power generators.  Instead of drawing power from the transmission lines, the power that they could have used can be distributed to the smaller customers,” he said.

Atty. Wilfred Jay Balisado, regional director of the Commission on Elections XI said power outage is not much of a problem since the battery of a Precinct Count Optical Scan machine can last for 16 hours on Election Day.

He said the poll body has also issued a resolution requesting power providers to ensure the supply of electricity on Election Day.

“The Comelec issued a resolution to that effect requesting agencies concerned to provide stable supply of electricity during elections.  But if a power outage occurs even for one hour, there is no problem because a PCOS machine can run for 16 hours,” Balisado said.  (PIA XI-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)

DPWH XI 1st Dist. Eng. Office cites early 2013 accomplishments

By: Rose B. Palacio 

The DPWH-XI 1st District Engineering Office is already 30% positive in the implementation of its 2013 infra projects. This was disclosed by District Engineer Lorna T. Ricardo in her latest report to the DPWH-XI Regional Office.  

The district under Engr. Ricardo has been allocated P 417.157 M to fund its 17 regular intra projects for 2013. The First District has 8 while the Second District has 9 multi-million intra projects scheduled to be implemented and completed this year all of which are under the DPWH-XI FIRST DEO.      

Among the projects being prioritized by the DPWH in the First District is the P44M construction/widening/rehabilitation and upgrading of access roads to declared tourism destinations such as the Road at G. Porras and Trade School Drive at Bo. Obrero, Davao City. The project is now on-going and is already 9.618%.

In the Second District, Engr. Ricardo likewise bared that the P 42.1M widening of Daang Maharlika (Agusan-Davao Road) Davao City Section; the widening of Davao City Diversion Road, P 40M; Construction/Widening of access roads to major Seaports at Sasa Wharf P 40M; completion of on-going bridge including approaches at Crossing Malabog Bridge along Fatima-Malabog Road, P 40M, are now on-going.

“I am positive that we can complete all our 2013 infra projects ahead of schedule’, Engr. Ricardo said. (PIA XI w/ reports from Rose B. Palacio).

Eastmincom chief stands firm against rebel demand for cop's freedom

DAVAO CITY, April 2 (PIA) A top military commander supported the position of the 10th Infantry Division not to suspend military operations to give in to the conditions of the New Peoples Army to release an abducted police officer.

Lt. General Jorge Segovia, commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command said the rebels would always ask for suspension of military operations prior to the release of a kidnapped victim.

He said the military would never yield to any demand from a rebel group.

“We can no longer allow the rebels to use the abduction to restrain the actions of government,” Segovia said. 

He recalled that when PO3 Ruben Nohapa, a member of the Nabunturan Police Station was abducted two weeks ago, the rebels did not ask for SOMO.

Segovia said that the rebels can release the policeman even without the suspension of military operations.

He said that the kidnapping was carried out for propaganda purposes and to divert the attention of the military whose activities constrained the movement of the rebels.

Segovia believed that guarding a hostage is taking a toll on the rebel groups due to their limited logistical resources and constraints in movement.

“Releasing a hostage is also for their best interest,” he said.

Chief Superintendent Anselmo Pinili, assistant regional director for administration of the Police Regional Office XI hoped that PO3 Nohapa is safe despite his captivity.

He said the abduction is being documented to be used in the filing of charges against the leaders of the rebel group in order to effectively prosecute them.

“We are coordinating with our counterparts in the military to come up with a solid case against them for kidnapping.  We have to enforce the law,” Pinili said.

PO3 Nohapa was abducted when he passed by a checkpoint manned by the rebels who were disguised as soldiers in the early morning of March 18  in Barangay Mainit, Nabunturan, Compostela Valley.

The rebels in a communiqué said that the National Democratic Front of the Philippines ordered the release of Nohapa for humanitarian reasons following the appeal of his family and peace advocates who support a negotiated settlement within the bounds of international humanitarian law.

They also urged the military and the police to stop the offensive military operations in Compostela Valley to pay the way for the safe, orderly and fast release of PO3 Nohapa. (PIA XI-Joey  Sem G. Dalumpines)

DavNor Guv cites contribution to PNoy social contract

TAGUM CITY,  Davao del Norte, April 01 (PIA):   Provincial Gov. Rodolfo P. del Rosario views some accomplishments of his administration as contribution to efforts on realizing the social contract of President Benigno S. Aquino III with  the Filipino people.

In delivering his recent State of the Province Address (SOPA), Del Rosario incorporated reports on accomplishments of national programs and projects he adopted  and mainstreamed in his development agenda dubbed as P.E.O.P.L.E.

Among the national concerns which he prominently figured out in his SOPA were the Philippine commitment to the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), the Universal Philhealth, and the Public-Private Partnership.

He discussed how the provincial government of Davao del Norte fared with the MDG commitment on Eradication of Extreme Poverty and Hunger and on Reduction of Child Mortality  and Maternal Mortality rates.

He thanked  President Aquino  for extensively rolling out the Universal Health Program which  absorbed in 2012, “60 percent of the 60,185 enrollments we did in 2010, leaving us with only 23,600 not-so-poor beneficiaries.”

“By freeing us of the 60 percent, we gained elbow room for other health investments,” Del Rosario said.

Meanwhile, Del Rosario disclosed setbacks such as reduction of internal revenue allotment (IRA), rejection of the Philippine bananas,  and raging storms experienced last year, that could have slowed down the development pace set by the provincial government.

However, the Governor was grateful for the PPP approach which “complemented our limited government resources, and enabled us to efficiently achieve higher results,” he said.

Among the landmark PPP his administration clinched last year included the dairy project in New Corella implemented in partnership with Land O’lakes; road projects with the World Bank and the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID); tourism access roads with the Department of Tourism (DOT)  and the Davao del Norte Sports and Cultural Center with a private contractor which agreed to build it in a turn-key scheme of payment.

In citing these initiatives,  Del Rosario made known the contribution of the provincial government to  realizing the Filipino people’s aspiration to achieve changes in governance.

“In our humble way, we are able to give flesh to the lofty ideals of the Social Contract of President Aquino; we are able to convey the message that as a Contract, the government cannot unilaterally be responsible for influencing the development course; that ordinary people too primarily bears the responsibility to dictate their own development direction; that as contracting parties, government and people should together walk the Daang Matuwid,”  he said.

A definition in the internet says that a social contract is the belief that the state only exists to serve the will of the people, and they are the source of all political power enjoyed by the state. They can choose to give or withhold this power.

The social contract of President Aquino seeks to address people’s cry for change amidst corruption, division, and lost of trust in democratic institutions. 

Branding his thrust for change as “Tungo sa Daang Matuwid,”  the President commits his administration to  work on instituting good governance; economic development; human development; security, justice and peace; and climate change.          

Believing in the direction that President Aquino had taken,  Del Rosario  was optimistic to see “further brightness in our future under the national leadership of President Aquino.”

Along with his hope for a brighter future,  Del Rosario urged local leaders and constituents of Davao del Norte to “to support our President and the TEAM PNOY.”

“It is TEAM PNOY who will carry further in six years, the reforms initiated by  President Noynoy,”  he said.

He vowed to continue paving way for Daang Matuwid to reach “the remotest of our villages; enter the homes of every Dabaonon through basic social services; and make a lasting change of attitude to every Dabaonon heart.”  (PIA XI/ Jeanevive D. Abangan)

Geologist urges vigilance among New Bataan poblacion residents

NEW BATAAN, COMPOSTELA VALLEY, April 02 (PIA):  Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Geologist Beverly Brebante urges residents of New Bataan to be always vigilant of flashfloods and floods which she said would usually occur due to  the towns topographic location.

During the Makigsayod Information Forum in New Bataan held last month,  Brebante made residents especially of  the town poblacion (referred to as Barangay Cabinuangan), understand the geographic hazards that they have to deal with.

Brebante drumbeat  calls for utmost vigilance  as people in the area recently experienced a disastrous debris flow when typhoon Pablo swept through Compostela Valley in December last year, carrying an avalanche of seven to nine meters depth of mixed mud, rocks, boulders and  sand.

The debris flow rushed through the center of barangay  Andap, buried a considerable portion of the barangay, lost lives of hundreds of its residents.  It  further pushed floodwaters six kilometers  towards the poblacion area of  New Bataan.

Brebante explained that flashfloods and floods would come as natural phenomena in  Barangay Cabinuangan which lies at the floodplains of Mayo and Maa rivers.

Floodplains are downstream areas where rivers normally shift their courses over some period of time.

In revealing findings of recent topographic survey, Brebante said Mayo River has shifted 1000 meters from its original course, taking a new direction closer to the poblacion, while the Maa River has taken a new course 500 meters westward towards the poblacion.

Brebante understood that relocating would take some time for residents to do so but she already had identified areas as relocation sites, specifically Purok 15 of Barangay Panag; Sitio Pagsilaan of Barangay Andap; and Purok 4 and 2 of Barangay San Roque.

The Task Force Pablo in February recommended relocation of residents in most parts of Barangay Cabinuangan.

Pending such moves to happen, Brebante suggested the local government unit (LGU) to adopt some mitigating measures such as construction of a dike before and after the junction of Kalyawan Creek and Mayo River;  desilting and widening of river channels to prevent clogging and constriction of river courses; and construction of a dike to prevent floodwaters of Ma-a River from overflowing.

She recommended the LGU to  take strict implementation of land use plan;  to set a buffer zone of five meters on both  sides of river banks; install rain gauges at the upper watershed of rivers;  set up a warning system; monitor landslide prone areas  to  check development of tension cracks and other landslide manifestation; require a detailed environmental impact study of whatever development activities at the headswater areas of  surrounding rivers; conduct EIC Campaign; and to immediately relocate residents of So. Liboton in Brgy Andap.

Sitio Liboton is located at the headwater area of Mayo River which spawned huge volume of floodwaters and an avalanche of debris into the sitio when Typhoon Pablo came in December last year.   (piaxi/Jeanevive Duron-Abangan)

TESDA offers DSWD training for work plan

DAVAO CITY April 2 (PIA)- The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is targeting about 1,080 youth beneficiaries for Davao City and Davao del Sur for its cash-for-training program funded by the DSWD.

Engr. Nestor Tabada TESDA Provincial director covering the city of Davao and the province of Davao del Sur said that the Department of Social Welfare and Development has allotted P21.6 million for the cash-for-training program of which P12.1 million will be for Davao del Sur and Davao City will get P9.6 million.

The beneficiary of the program will be allocated P20,000 that includes the scholarship voucher and tool kits for the industry he has chosen, The provision of transportation allowances is also included in the scholarship package.

Tabada said that they have identified key industries for the training these include; the business process outsourcing, tourism industry, electronics and agri-fisheries.

The youth participants are those assessed by the DSWD covered under the Pantawid Pamilya Program. About P65-million has been allotted for the cash-for-training program in the region which aims to cover 3,200 beneficiaries.

Tabada said that the budget of TESDA has been constant in recent years and they had been batting for the status quo of their agency’s scholarship budget. The TESDA provincial head said that the budget for technical skills education scholarship are augmented by local government units, national government agencies such as the DSWD and private companies such as Coca Cola.

The  softdrink company has recently partnered with TESDA to formally train about a thousand sari-sari store owners in entrepreneurial  management particularly in running their sari-sari stores. The multinational has allocated about P700,000 to Davao City and  Davao del Sur for the project which began in February this year.  (PIA/RG Alama)