TF Diwalwal adopts NEDA's draft dev't. plan

DAVAO CITY, June 27 (PIA):  The Project Monitoring and Coordination Center National Task Force Diwalwal (PMCC-NTFD)  recently passed  a resolution adopting the Diwalwal Mineral Reservation Area (DMRA) Development Plan for 2012 to 2032.

The DMRA Development Plan 2012 to 2032 will then be endorsed to the Regional Development Council.

National Economic and  Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Director Ma. Lourdes Lim presented the draft  DMRA Development Plan to  focal person of member agencies in a meeting last Tuesday at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) XI conference room.

She bared efforts of NEDA XI to  come up with the plan as a m ember agency of the Socio-Economic  and Safety Nets Task Group  of the PMCC-NTFD “in response to the directive of the Office of the President to formulate plans that are resource-based and focused at sub-regional/sub-provincial level in order to prioritize interventions leading to the attainment of goals and objectives under the Regional Development Plan (RDP), 2011-2016.”

The  “most prominent issues and concerns” that the plan seeks to address  are heavy siltation  and contamination of Naboc River and its tributaries due to mining activities;  flooding and landslides,  problem on solid waste management,  illegal mining activities,  conflict of mining rights, partial collection of government share from mining activities and poor infrastructure.

Still subject for revision at the RDC level, the plan’s primary objective is to provide stakeholders in the mineral-rich area with long-term development framework that would encompass social, economic, environment, governance and infrastructure, “that would ensure a more comprehensive and sustainable approach to the area’s development.”

The plan sets five development goals which are increasing access to social services and productive employment opportunities;  increasing the productivity of mining, agriculture and tourism; achieving clean, safe, healthy and sustainable-managed environment;  improving governance; and achieving physical integration with quality and well-planned infrastructure facilities and rationalized  land use.

Lim pointed out the need to pursue the goals “to ultimately lead to the envisioned state of DMRA by 2032.”       

            The proposed vision says that “by 2032, Diwalwal Mineral Reservation Area (DMRA), shall have been economically productive and sustainably managed by a politically mature government collaborating harmoniously with all stakeholders…”

The draft plan has six chapters with chapter 1 stating the introduction, Chapter 2 on Development Potentials and Challenges, Chapter 3 on Development Goals and Objectives,  Chapter 4 on Development Strategies;  Chapter 5 Plan Implementation,  Monitoring and Evaluation  Mechanisms, Chapter Major Program, Activities and Projects and Policy Agenda.   (piaxi/ jeanevive duron-abangan)

Duterte-Carpio cites gains as she ends RDC-XI stint

DAVAO CITY, June 27 (PIA) Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio urged members of the Regional Development Council in Davao Region to continue to work together to reduce poverty and to revitalize and to make local industries globally competitive in order to provide more jobs for the residents, consequently attaining an inclusive growth beneficial for all Davaoenos.

In delivering her final state of the region address during the last meeting of the RDC XI under her watch Wednesday, she cited all the efforts ventured by the group based on the direction set by President Benigno Simeon Aquino III towards inclusive growth and good governance.

She underscored that the gains in the RDC’s performance in the last three years were attained through all government agencies and stakeholders, in private sector helping and working together.

Duterte-Carpio said based on the socio-economic performance, the region’s total economic output based on the Gross Regional Domestic Product reflected a downtrend from 2009 to 2011.

She said the planned targets fro 2010 and 2011 were not achieved as identified risk and external factors like higher cost of energy and oil prices, small-scale miners selling gold to black market, slower recovery of the American and European economies limited options. 

Duterte-Carpio also noted quality issues also impact on the export banana and changing climatic patterns continued to prevail.

She said even if the GRDP levels increased and rebounded Region XI as top economy among the six regions in Mindanao in 2011 in terms of value, the growth remained narrow.

“In the first semester of 2012, poverty incidence of families was placed at 28.6 percent, an increase of 1.7 percentage points from 2006 to 2012.  Even then, the region’s poverty incidence remains the lowest among Mindanao regions,” Duterte-Carpio said.

She noted also that the Davao Regions capacity to provide employment expanded sustaining the 95 percent employment rates in 2011 and 2012.

Duterte-Carpio said it was an indicator that the RDC XI succeeded in providing more employment opportunities to the people.

She also underscored the success of the RDC XI in surpassing its target based on the Millennium Development Goals reducing mortality and underweight prevalence among children five years old below, increased elementary school participation and access to safe water supply.

“Efforts in these areas must need to be sustained but much is yet to be done with respect to the other development goals especially in curbing maternal mortality and improving children’s cohort survival in basic education,” Duterte-Carpio noted.

She said the RDC XI being the highest policymaking and coordinating body in the region, is able to pursue the development agency using public and private participation in areas like investments, infrastructure programs and projects, disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, no habitation policy on geologically hazardous areas, policy directions for sustainable development of the mineral reservation areas of the region, support to the  banana and coconut industries, and better access to quality education like the endorsement for the creation of the Davao Regional State University System.

Duterte-Carpio also underscored the RDC XI’s support to the enhanced K to 12 Basic Education Program and to address the job-skills mismatch, particularly in technical education.

She said that in promoting peace and development, the council facilitated the capacity building of eight local government units of Compostela Valley and 79 barangays in Davao City, facilitating selected line agencies and the security sector on conflict sensitive and peace promotive approaches in planning process.

“These stakeholders were able to identify peace and development programs and projects and the priority areas where these shall be implemented,” Duterte-Carpio said.

She also underscored that the institutionalization of the Davao Region Results Based Monitoring and Evaluation System aided in promoting greater transparency and accountability within organizations and government and provided stakeholders a clearer sense of the status of projects, programs and policies.

“This led to the completion of six bridges in Davao del Sur funded by the Austrian government in 2011, the releases of the fund for the Integrated Resource Management Program in Davao Oriental and the favorable issues on the issues and concerns raised on the effective management of the Francisco Bangoy International Airport,” Duterte-Carpio said.

She said one of the impacts of the RBMES is the issuance of the Civil  Aviation Authority of the Philippine Central Office of a cease and desist order requiring all airline companies to use the aerobridges in the embarkation and disembarkation of passengers to ensure safety, security and convenience to elderly, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities.

Duterte-Carpio also said that finding solutions to power generation and depleting power sources for Mindanao were two major concerns closer to her heart during her stint as chair of the Regional Development Council XI.

She said that power remains critical for Mindanao even if she bows out of office on June 30 as mayor of the city.  

Duterte-Carpio noted that the Department of Energy, Energy Regulatory Commission, the National Power Corporation and the National Economic and Development Authority Board-Infrastructure Committee and other concerned agencies responded to the Regional Development Committee-Mindanao recommendations ranging from the selective dredging of the Pulangi river to increase generating efficiency of the Pulangi IV hydro electric power plant, funding of the Agus VI hydro electric power plant and the Iligan Diesel Power Plant to its optimal operation power generating capacity.

She said the compounded efficient operations of these power generating facilities will contribute to the overall available power of the Mindanao Power Grid now and in the immediate future.

Dutete-Carpio also expressed hope on the interconnection between the Visayas and Mindanao grid, where surplus power from the geothermal power resources in Leyte will be passed to Mindanao.

She said that the RDC XI under her watch is able to come up a one-stop shop which makes easier for investors of mini-hydro power plants from five to 10 megawatt-capacity to get government nod to operate without going to the national agencies in Manila.

“Small hydro-power sources can also help in the power crisis in Mindanao,” Duterte-Carpio said.(RGA/JSD/PIA-XI)

Duterte-Carpio cites gains as she ends RDC-XI stint

DAVAO CITY, June 27 (PIA) Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio urged members of the Regional Development Council in Davao Region to continue to work together to reduce poverty and to revitalize and to make local industries globally competitive in order to provide more jobs for the residents, consequently attaining an inclusive growth beneficial for all Davaoenos.

In delivering her final state of the region address during the last meeting of the RDC XI under her watch Wednesday, she cited all the efforts ventured by the group based on the direction set by President Benigno Simeon Aquino III towards inclusive growth and good governance.

She underscored that the gains in the RDC’s performance in the last three years were attained through all government agencies and stakeholders, in private sector helping and working together.

Duterte-Carpio said based on the socio-economic performance, the region’s total economic output based on the Gross Regional Domestic Product reflected a downtrend from 2009 to 2011.

She said the planned targets fro 2010 and 2011 were not achieved as identified risk and external factors like higher cost of energy and oil prices, small-scale miners selling gold to black market, slower recovery of the American and European economies limited options. 

Duterte-Carpio also noted quality issues also impact on the export banana and changing climatic patterns continued to prevail.

She said even if the GRDP levels increased and rebounded Region XI as top economy among the six regions in Mindanao in 2011 in terms of value, the growth remained narrow.

“In the first semester of 2012, poverty incidence of families was placed at 28.6 percent, an increase of 1.7 percentage points from 2006 to 2012.  Even then, the region’s poverty incidence remains the lowest among Mindanao regions,” Duterte-Carpio said.

She noted also that the Davao Regions capacity to provide employment expanded sustaining the 95 percent employment rates in 2011 and 2012.

Duterte-Carpio said it was an indicator that the RDC XI succeeded in providing more employment opportunities to the people.

She also underscored the success of the RDC XI in surpassing its target based on the Millennium Development Goals reducing mortality and underweight prevalence among children five years old below, increased elementary school participation and access to safe water supply.

“Efforts in these areas must need to be sustained but much is yet to be done with respect to the other development goals especially in curbing maternal mortality and improving children’s cohort survival in basic education,” Duterte-Carpio noted.

She said the RDC XI being the highest policymaking and coordinating body in the region, is able to pursue the development agency using public and private participation in areas like investments, infrastructure programs and projects, disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, no habitation policy on geologically hazardous areas, policy directions for sustainable development of the mineral reservation areas of the region, support to the  banana and coconut industries, and better access to quality education like the endorsement for the creation of the Davao Regional State University System.

Duterte-Carpio also underscored the RDC XI’s support to the enhanced K to 12 Basic Education Program and to address the job-skills mismatch, particularly in technical education.

She said that in promoting peace and development, the council facilitated the capacity building of eight local government units of Compostela Valley and 79 barangays in Davao City, facilitating selected line agencies and the security sector on conflict sensitive and peace promotive approaches in planning process.

“These stakeholders were able to identify peace and development programs and projects and the priority areas where these shall be implemented,” Duterte-Carpio said.

She also underscored that the institutionalization of the Davao Region Results Based Monitoring and Evaluation System aided in promoting greater transparency and accountability within organizations and government and provided stakeholders a clearer sense of the status of projects, programs and policies.

“This led to the completion of six bridges in Davao del Sur funded by the Austrian government in 2011, the releases of the fund for the Integrated Resource Management Program in Davao Oriental and the favorable issues on the issues and concerns raised on the effective management of the Francisco Bangoy International Airport,” Duterte-Carpio said.

She said one of the impacts of the RBMES is the issuance of the Civil  Aviation Authority of the Philippine Central Office of a cease and desist order requiring all airline companies to use the aerobridges in the embarkation and disembarkation of passengers to ensure safety, security and convenience to elderly, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities.

Duterte-Carpio also said that finding solutions to power generation and depleting power sources for Mindanao were two major concerns closer to her heart during her stint as chair of the Regional Development Council XI.

She said that power remains critical for Mindanao even if she bows out of office on June 30 as mayor of the city.  

Duterte-Carpio noted that the Department of Energy, Energy Regulatory Commission, the National Power Corporation and the National Economic and Development Authority Board-Infrastructure Committee and other concerned agencies responded to the Regional Development Committee-Mindanao recommendations ranging from the selective dredging of the Pulangi river to increase generating efficiency of the Pulangi IV hydro electric power plant, funding of the Agus VI hydro electric power plant and the Iligan Diesel Power Plant to its optimal operation power generating capacity.

She said the compounded efficient operations of these power generating facilities will contribute to the overall available power of the Mindanao Power Grid now and in the immediate future.

Dutete-Carpio also expressed hope on the interconnection between the Visayas and Mindanao grid, where surplus power from the geothermal power resources in Leyte will be passed to Mindanao.

She said that the RDC XI under her watch is able to come up a one-stop shop which makes easier for investors of mini-hydro power plants from five to 10 megawatt-capacity to get government nod to operate without going to the national agencies in Manila.

“Small hydro-power sources can also help in the power crisis in Mindanao,” Duterte-Carpio said.(RGA/JSD/PIA-XI)

Resilient DavOr celebrates founding anniversary

MATI CITY June 28 (PIA)-Bannered by the theme “Move on, Move up Davao Oriental” the 46th founding anniversary of the province is being celebrated as a testament to its resiliency.

The three towns of the province (Boston, Baganga and Cateel) were among the hardest hit areas during the onslaught of Typhoon Pablo last December 4 and is the site of relief and rehabilitation efforts by the government and international donor agencies.

The anniversary activities started last June 7 at the Capitol Covered court in Mati City which once served as a distributing center for food supplies to Pablo victims.  The facility became the venue for the opening of the provincial inter-office sports festival. The athletic activity for the provincial government employees will run up to the 28th of this month.

The Million Trees Movement, now on its 4th year, held its tree planting activity at Sitio Magay, Don Martin Marundan in Mati City on June 22.

The Hudyakaan or street party opens at 6pm today (June 28) at the capitol grounds.

On June 29, the Province will be hosting the Capitol Ball at 7 pm. It will be held at the old tennis court. Guests will be serenaded by the Provincial Capitol Choir.

The Capitol Ball will be graced by Provincial Governor Corazon Malanyaon with the traditional Vin d’Honneur to  be attended by Congressman. Nelson L. Dayanghirang (1st District) and Congresswoman  Thelma Z. Almario (2nd District), Vice-Gov. Joel Mayo Z. Almario, Mayor-elect Carlo B. Rabat and the Municipal Mayors-elect.

The Ball will witness the oath-taking of the newly-elected provincial, city and municipal government officials.   Governor Corazon Malanyaon will make her inaugural address after the oath-taking.

The program will culminate with a recessional, fireworks display and a dinner.

 The provinces of Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte and Davao del Sur were carved out from the undivided province of Davao in 1967 with the enactment of Republic Act 4867 a law which created the three provinces.(RG Alama/PIA XI with reports from DB Vicentino)

Duterte-Carpio cites gains as she ends RDC-XI stint

DIGOS CITY, Davao del Sur, June 28 (PIA) – Provincial health officer Dr. Azucena Dayanghirang has recommended for the establishment of a dialysis center in the province, aiming to provide affordable and accessible treatment facility for patients with kidney disease.         

Dayanghirang said this proposal will be presented to the incoming set of local government officials headed by newly-elected Governor Claude Bautista, and to the Department of Health for approval and funding requirements.

She brought up the necessity for a dialysis center to the Davao del Sur media during Wednesday’s (June 26) Kapihan sa PIA-XI in Digos City that tackled on the promotion of renal health care in celebration of this year’s Kidney Month.

She said if the facility would be available in the province, patients with kidney disease need not travel to Davao City, which is a one-hour ride from Digos City and more than an hour from other municipalities, to seek for treatment.

Although there are few existing private dialysis facilities in Digos City, Dayanghirang deemed it vital to put up a government-owned treatment center to cater to more patients, especially those from the low-income sector.

Dr. Chito Cornejo, kidney expert and diplomate of the Philippine Society of Nephrology-Davao del Sur Chapter based in Digos City, bared he has 60 patients undergoing dialysis at the Digos Doctors Hospital.

He told the media on the same forum that there are two patients at Gonzales Maranan Medical Center and six at NephroCare where he is the medical director.

He added that there are 500 dialysis treatments for these patients per month.

He said most these patients come from the municipality of Magsaysay, and the others are from Bansalan, Digos City, Malalag and Padada.

Cornejo however disclosed that there were patients who started their treatments in Digos City, but opted to continue at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) in Davao City where treatment fee is cheaper.

The facilities in Digos City are asking P950 per treatment in excess of the PhilHealth benefits, and P2,900 per treatment without PhilHealth, he stated.

Meanwhile, Dayanghirang mentioned that only one patient undergoing maintenance dialysis was monitored to have been admitted at the Davao del Sur Provincial Hospital.

The proposal for the establishment of dialysis center is part of PHO’s five-year health program for the province as a result of the strategic planning among provincial, city and municipal health officers, she bared.

She urged for a continuous and strengthened renal campaign program in the province as she noted that the National Kidney and Transplant Institute – Renal Disease Control Program (NKTI-REDCOP) has ended last year in the province.

Dayanghirang said it was worthy to note that there are private practitioners like Dr. Cornejo and SPMC kidney specialist consultant Dr. Franklin Guillano who are actively advocating for renal health care.

The campaign against kidney disease in the country has been spearheaded by NKTI-REDCOP in partnership with the Philippine Society of Nephrologists and Philippine Information Agency. (PIA-XI/Carina L. Cayon)

ComVal Capitol Employees gitanom ang 3,000 punoan sa kahoy atol sa Arbor Day

by Gilbert M. Cabahug

Luyo sa kusog nga bunok sa ulan milampos gihapon ang tibuok probinsiya sa Compostela Valley sa pagtanom sa liboang punoan sa mga kahoy diha sa lain-laing mga lugar sa onse ka mga lungsod.  Kini  atol sa gihimong pagduyog sa probinsiya sa gihimong pagselebrar sa kauluhan sa National Arbor Day niadtong Hunyo 25, 2013, nga diin maoy nangulo sila si Governor Arturo “Chiongkee” Uy ug ang onse ka mga Municipal Mayors sa usa ka adlaw’ng selebrasyon.

Synchronized ang gihimong Tree Planting Activity sa tibuok Probinsiya, ug ang mga empleyado sa Kapitolyo diha nagtanom ug kahoy sa Lamdag Agro-Eco-Tourism Complex sa Pasian, Monkayo.  Si Governor Uy gihapon  maoy nangulo kanila nianang sayo sa buntag, nga bisan sa kusog kayo ang pagbunok sa ulan, milampos gihapon sila pagtanom sa mokabat 3,000 ka punoan sa mga kahoy’ng Lauan, Mahogany, ug Acacia Mangium.

Gitug-an ni Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) Chief Mr. Eugene Alaba sa PAGRO, nga miapil gayud sa malampusong Tree Planting Activity ang 20 ka mga opisina sa kapitolyo ug diha sila nananom ug kahoy sa mga kilid sa karsada sulod sa Compound sa Agro-Eco-Tourism Complex sa ComVal.  (Gilbert M. Cabahug, ids-comval)

Sa ComVal: Mga sundalo ug civilian gi-harvest ang mga tanom nilang gulay

by Gilbert M. Cabahug

Nag-uban karon ang mga kasundalohan ug mga civilian  pag-harvest sa tanom nilang mga gulay sulod mismo sa kampo sa Alpha (Action) Company, 72nd IB, 10th ID sa  Philippine Army diha sa Brgy. Libasan, Nabunturan, Compostela Valley Province atol sa hiniusang pagsaulog sa 1st Harvest Festival sa kampo.

Sa usa ka adlaw’ng Harvest Festival daw walay gibating kakapoy ang mga sundalo ug katawhan diha sa Brgy. Libasan sa pagpamupo sa himsog ug bus-ok kaayong mga bunga sa tanom nilang mga gulay nga mao ang mga talong, kalabasa, water melon, mga upo, mga kalikot, atsal, ug kamatis. Sa dinahon mao say ilang gi-harvest niadtong adlawa ang himsog ug tambok nga mga dahon sa tanom nilang upland kangkong.

Sa wala pa nila sugdi ang harvest dunay gihimong field tour sa mga katawhan ug mga dagkong opisyal nga mitambong, ug panahon sa gihimong paglibot sa mga pananom, halos ang tanan niadtong mga miapil nagpadayag sa gibating kahimuot tungod sa makaiibog nga talan-awon sa mga preskong utanon sulod sa kampo nga niadtong higayona naghulat sa mokab-ot nga mga kamot sa harvester.

Human niadto, ang usa ka hamubong programa nga gisugdan sa mga pag-ampo sa pagpanguna sa Division Chaplain nga si Captain Pablo De Guzman. Maoy mihatag sa Opening Remarks si Brgy. Capt. Rommel Reyes nga gisundan sa Program Overview gikan ni Capt. Jovi Jan Ferido- Commander sa Alpha Company sa 72nd IB.

Mihatag sad sa ilang mensahe sila si Col. Angelito De Leon-Commander sa 1001st Brigade; si Vice Mayor Angelo Sotto nga maoy mihatag sa mensahe ni Mayor Romeo Clarin; ug si Vice Gov. Elect Manuel “Way Kurat” Zamora nga mao say nagpabati sa mensahe ni Gov. Arturo “Chiongkee” Uy.

Gitug-an ni Vegetable Program Coordinator Erwin Mesias nga ang gi-harvest nga mga gulay maoy resulta nagpadayong Season Long Training kun libreng mga pagbansay sa Vegetable Production nga  gitawag ug “Gulayan sa Kampo”.  Libre kini nga gitunol sa probinsiya, sa LGU Nabunturan, ug sa East West Seed Company ilalom sa “Vegetable Production Program” ni Gov. Uy sa Compostela Valley.  (Gilbert M. Cabahug, ids-comval)