Zamboanga News Forum

Mayor Celso Lobregat has underscored the need to strengthen response capability of the different law enforcement agencies designated to guard the coast line of Zamboanga and the neighboring areas.

Mayor Lobregat said enhancement of security and peace and order plan should take into consideration the location and geography of the city of Zamboanga. "We have a very long coast line and so the entire sea lane becomes a highway", the mayor said, pointing out that numerous incidents happen at sea, the latest of which was the abduction of fish farm caretaker Vicente "Teng" Barrios. "This means to say that the kidnappers are having a hard time conducting criminal activities on land and so the whole sea becomes their highway".The chief executive stressed during the Multi-sectoral stakeholders’ convergence for peace, development and security initiated by Western Mindanao Command Chief Lt. Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino at the military headquarters in Calarian Tuesday. Mayor Lobregat said having a coordinated effort in terms of response and facilities between the agencies tasked to safeguard the coastlines such as the Philippine Navy, the Philippine Coast Guard, Special Action Force, Maritime Police and many others. "All of these have sea assets so we have to make sure that when an incident happens the reporting time is up to the barest minimum and all units can respond and should respond immediately".Meanwhile, it was during the convergence meeting where Gen. Dolorfino proposed the creation of a multi-sectoral committee that would address security-related problems that require sustained non-military intervention. Mayor Lobregat welcomed the idea though he suggested the enhancement of the City Peace and Order Council to further strengthen the campaign against kidnapping and the spate of killings in the barangays of Mampang, Arena Blanco and Talon-talon. Aside from the CPOC, the city government, based existing laws, has organized local councils or committees with members from the civil societies as members. Members in such mandated committees pass through certain accreditation process, as prescribed under the law. "It is true the city government, the police and the military cannot solve peace and order problems alone, thus, we need the cooperation of the community", the mayor added. (Sheila Covarrubias)

Via Zamboanga Times

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Mayor Celso Lobregat Thursday night was conferred the National Sandugo Award for Outstanding Local Government Executives making him a 3-time hall of famer and the only awardee under the high ranking government official category in Region 9.

Now on its 12th year, the National Sandugo Award, is an initiative of the National Center for Health Facility Development of the Department of Health for local government executives who have shown support and commitment to the National Voluntary Blood Services Program (NVBSP). The ceremony was held at the Heritage Hotel in Pasay City, July 29. Dr. Crisanta Abesamis, DOH undersecretary presided over the awarding ceremoniesAlso conferred with the 5th Sandugo Award was Tetuan barangay chairman Felipe "Nonong" Natividad, who is also a 3 time Hall of Famer under the barangay captain category. Josephine Pareja, barangay chair of Talisayan got her 3rd Sandugo Award, and is thus elevated to the Hall of Fame. Ever since he started his term as mayor, Lobregat has been very supportive of the plans and programs of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC). In fact, he is a second term governor of the PNRC. This assistance comes in the form of trainings and resources to ensure the smooth operation of the local blood bank.Lobregat said he shares the award to all the members of the local Red Cross. H expressed elation over the recognition from the DOH and vowed to continuously pursue his commitment to the blood program.Joining Mayor Lobregat in Manila during the awarding ceremony were Zamboanga City Red Cross Administrator Vic Liozo Jr. and officials from the DOH-Field Office 9. Other Region 9 awardees were Guipos, Zamboanga del Sur Municipal Mayor Francisco Oraiz, Jr. who received his first Sandugo Award and Barangay Chairman Joel Japon of Barangay Oroquieta, Guipos, Zamboanga del Sur who got his first award. The National Sandugo Award for Local Government Executives is bestowed on a provincial governor, city mayor, municipal mayor or barangay captain who gave outstanding support, commitment and active involvement in the promotion of voluntary blood donation towards the achievement of the vision of Republic Act 7719 otherwise known as the "National Blood Services Act of 1994".Specific criteria to the awards include personal involvement and commitment in the NVBSP, provision of resources in the promotion of voluntary blood donation, being instrumental for the high percentage of voluntary blood donation in his jurisdiction which includes blood collected by government and private hospital, PNRC blood center, local health services and NGOs and exemplary administrative actions in support of NVBSP such as issuances within the last 5 years. The awards is in line with the advocacy for voluntary blood donation which was enhanced by the enactment of RA 7719 which mobilized national agencies and private organizations to promote voluntary blood donation and collect the lifesaving fluid. (Sheila Covarrubias)

Via Zamboanga Times

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A veteran lawmaker said on Tuesday that the Ethics Committee of the House of Representatives might investigate the drug trafficking case filed against Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Singson in Hong Kong. “The committee on ethics will have to investigate if the incident blows up into a national controversy and threatens to damage the integrity of the Lower House,” said Siquijor Rep. Orlando Fua on Tuesday.Fua, however, declined to comment on the legal issues affecting Singson’s case, although he admitted that the ethics panel was not barred from looking into the issue.Singson, son of Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson Jr., is now detained at a Hong Kong jail following his July 11 arrest at the Hong Kong International Airport by immigration authorities.The young Singson, a second term congressman in Ilocos Sur’s first district, was reportedly caught in possession of some 26.1 grams of cocaine and two tablets of valium, which are included in the list of dangerous substances banned in the Chinese territory.Reports also showed that the Ilocos Sur lawmaker faces a five to eight years prison term in the former British colony if found guilty of drug trafficking charges.Citing the case of former Zamboanga del Sur Rep. Romeo Jalosjos, the Siquijor solon said the ethics body might also move to consider disciplinary action against any erring lawmaker once the court handed down a final decision on cases filed.It will be recalled that despite a lower court decision convicting Jalosjos on child rape cases, the Lower House allowed the lawmaker to receive salaries and file bills while awaiting for a final ruling of the Supreme Court.Fua, one of the most senior members of the august Chamber, will be nominated by the minority bloc as chairman of the House ethics committee if Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. accedes to the Minority’s request that they be assigned chairmanship in at least two House panels.Minority Leader and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said Fua was among the most respected veteran lawmakers in the Lower House.He said that the five-time Siquijor lawmaker was among the top legal experts of the House.The House minority bloc is composed of 27 Lakas-Kampi-CMD members and two party-list representatives. It has also sought chairmanship of the committee on good government.Lagman noted that parliamentary bodies in other countries usually assign the two committees to the minority bloc as an assurance of transparency and checks and balances in the legislature.

Via Zamboanga Times

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GENERAL SANTOS CITY (July 28, 2010) – “This celebration showcases our public-private partnership (towards progress)”, Governor Migs Dominguez said Tuesday, July 27 in a press conference sponsored by Globe Telecom.

Sarangani celebrates its 6th USWAG (United Towards Strong, Wealthy, and Globally Competitive) Sarangani during the week (July 27-August 1) with product exhibits at the Gaisano Mall.USWAG is Sarangani’s local version of the national Small and Medium Enterprises Development (SMED) week-long celebration.In Sarangani, Globe has been assisting four of the province’s micro-enterprises that have shown remarkable growth in the last few months.“We have big plans in SOCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato, Sarangani, General Santos City , Sultan Kudarat),” Globe regional area head Norma Zamora- Ribo said. “We are right now preparing for another roll-out with our broadband facilities.”At the press conference, Ribo introduced WiMAX, Globe’s latest broadband technology in 4G signal and the first in the country.Ribo said Globe plans to build 100 additional sites in Mindanao, 50 of these will be built in the region.“We are here to make business and to help,” Ribo added.“Development should start in the community like Ihan,” said Jeffrey Tarayao, corporate social responsibility head. Sitio Ihan Lumad Association (SILA) in Ihan is one of the four communities assisted by Globe who now produces handcrafted basketry, plates, mats, and picture frames from bamboo, abaca, nito and rattan.SILA members are a group of outlaws who used to attack Globe facilities in the area. “It was Governor Migs’ idea to spur development in Sarangani,” Tarayao said.“It is the private sector that builds the economy. We are just providing opportunities where investments will thrive and for our people to improve their way of living,” Dominguez said. The 6th USWAG Sarangani celebration is dubbed as “Tagumpay Mula sa Kahirapan”.Department of Trade and Industry provincial director Engr. Nenita Barroso said since 2005 until June this year, business registrants increased in an average of 28 percent every year.“Consequently, there is an increase of employment for about 29 percent every year,” Barroso said.“We just want to have alive and thriving business partnerships with the private sectors in the province,” Sarangani Chamber of Commerce and Industry board chairman Bronx Hebrona said. (Russtum G. Pelima/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Via Zamboanga Times

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Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman on Tuesday has called on all Filipino citizens to do their part in nation building and achieved the state-of-the-nation address (SONA) goals being pushed by President Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” C. Aquino. Soliman said that this can be done by paying correct taxes, observing laws and regulations of the country scrupulously, and reporting to authorities’ person or groups involved in wrong doing.”We must all work the straight and narrow path to goodness. President Aquino’s goals of improving this country economically, politically, and socially will all come to a naught if we will not help him,” the DSWD chair said.She also stressed that Filipinos, from all walks of life, must all do their part to make a even better Philippines.Likewise, Soliman also added that members of the media must do their forswore duty to report the truth and expose all the lies or anomalies they encounter to make the country a desirable place to live and invest in.Aquino on Monday pledged to put an end to wastage of public finances and run a clean and efficient government.

Via Zamboanga Times

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ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK—Food security experts looking for innovative ways to connect smallhold farmers to increasingly competitive and fast-moving modern markets turned for answers recently to a group of Mindanao growers.

Agribusiness leaders and senior officials from 30 countries listened closely as Joan Cua Uy, vice president for marketing of the Northern Mindanao Vegetable Producers Association, Inc. (NorminVeggies), described how her group of smallhold farmers created economies of scale, ensured efficient market delivery, and made effective use of partnerships to attract quality-conscious institutional buyers.Uy was a speaker at Food for All, an international investment forum for food security in Asia and the Pacific organized by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and co-sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Asia Foundation.NorminVeggies, which began with a dozen grower-members with farms of two to 10 hectares each, now has 177 core members working with about 7,000 affiliate growers in the provinces of Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental.Through its “private-private” partnerships with these affiliate growers, it supplies bulk-buying institutional clients in Visayas and Luzon with approximately 70 metric tons of vegetables weekly, in addition to supplying more traditional markets in Mindanao. Its institutional buyers include a major supermarket chain and a high-end hotel, consolidators for fast food chains like KFC, and hotel and restaurant distributors.This was made possible, Uy said, through NorminVeggies’ use of “commodity clustering,” in which groups of farmers focus on the production of a specific commodity and program their harvests to coincide with shipment schedules agreed upon by both buyers and growers. This creates economies of scale and helps growers to negotiate better prices for their produce. “The cluster provides the mechanism for quality control, for quick response to buyer feedback, as well as for implementation of market-related innovations as needed,” said Uy.Commodity clustering is not new to Mindanao, where it has long been practiced through contract-growing agreements between farmers and large multinational agribusiness firms. What makes NorminVeggies’ approach different is that it builds on partnerships between relatively small-scale “independent” growers with other sources of income, and some access to capital and technology—its core members—and what it refers to as “small” growers with tiny family-operated farms, of which Mindanao has thousands.To ensure the efficient product flow from the farms to the buyers, NorminVeggies assumes the role of supply chain manager that coordinates, for a fee, the interaction among the small farmers, buyers, service providers—such as seed and logistics companies—and other market actors. “We see ourselves as growers who are also able to provide business development services for which other growers are prepared to pay,” Uy said. NorminVeggies developed its value chain with the help of USAID’s Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program, which works with industry associations and chambers of commerce to accelerate economic growth in the region.The GEM Program provided NorminVeggies with training in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), improved post-harvest handling techniques, marketing and logistics assistance, and other key interventions as the association developed. Uy said that GEM’s assistance in strengthening NorminVeggies’ market value chain was what enabled the association to “break through” as a supplier to institutional buyers. She added that NorminVeggies’ clusters always produce fifty percent more than required by their contracts. In this way, any deficiency in the production of one grower can be covered by the other growers. After the vegetables are sorted and graded for the contracting buyer, the surplus is sold in traditional wet markets.Today, NorminVeggies is working under new private-private partnerships to expand its markets. Recently it collaborated with the Vegetable Industry Council of Southern Mindanao (VICSMIN) to supply vegetables to an international chain hotel in Davao City.NorminVeggies also partnered with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the GEM Program in creating the Northern Mindanao Vegetable Consolidaton Center (NVCC) in Cagayan de Oro City, which serves as the association’s trading platform for collecting and distributing produce to various buyers. The DA has provided rain-shelters to NorminVeggies’ grower-members to help them produce good-quality, high-value vegetables on a consistent basis.  Uy said that despite NorminVeggies’ pragmatic, market-oriented approach, it remains a non-stock, non-profit organization whose members are taking the long view in strengthening the sector and increasing the capability of Mindanao’s small farmers to participate in market supply chains.“After my presentation at ADB, participants came up to me to say that NorminVeggies’ experience validated the theory that small growers cannot do it alone, and cannot depend only on government. There has to be collaboration within the private sector itself,” she said. Echoing the observations of other ADB presenters, Uy pointed out that small farmers need about two years’ “nurturing” before they can venture into the modern market supply chain on their own. They need to fully understand their production/supply capacity, plan their course of action, and conduct test marketing before venturing into a supply arrangement, she added.NorminVeggies is now working with NGOs such as Catholic Relief Services and Philam Foundation, and with local government units, to further increase small farmers’ capabilities in this area. It is also establishing relationships with academic and financing institutions.It continues to collaborate with the DA, GEM, and other industry groups like VICSMIN in holding industry events to promote commodity clustering and updated agriculture technologies in Mindanao. GEM

Via Zamboanga Times

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We would like to greet all the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ) brothers and sisters around the world "Happy 96th Anniversary!" 

May God, through the Lord Jesus Christ, continue to pour His blessings to the Church; and His bestown wisdom and holy guidance always be upon His Administration.

Onward to Salvation!

Greetings from:

The Online Zambo Times staff

Via Zamboanga Times

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DAVAO CITY—Working with local partners, the U.S. government has built more than 1,000 community infrastructure projects across conflict-affected areas of Mindanao.

Although relatively simple and small in scale, these barangay infrastructure projects, or “BIPs,” have provided direct benefits to approximately a million residents in conflict-affected areas of Mindanao island and the Sulu Archipelago, appreciably improving the quality of life and economic wellbeing of their communities.The infrastructure was built in collaboration with barangay and municipal governments and other local partners by the U.S. Agency for International Development, though its Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program.BIPs range from boat landings, bridges and footbridges, water systems, and solar dryers, to trading centers and road renovations and upgrades, depending on the needs of a community’s residents.To date, the GEM Program has constructed more than 1,000 BIPs in 180 municipalities in 21 provinces and 13 cities in Mindanao, under the oversight of the Mindanao Development Authority.These projects are helping Mindanao’s farmers to improve production, and to transport goods more efficiently and reach markets more easily. They provide safer and quicker access to schools, workplaces, and medical and government services.“I lived in Bunao for 50 years and there never was a time when the area didn’t flood. Whenever it rained heavily, floods were sure to follow,” said Mandaya Dimasangkay, a community elder in Bunao, a barangay in Tupi, South Cotabato.In 2007, the GEM Program constructed a BIP barangay bridge in Bunao. The structure doubles as a culvert, helping to direct water flow and provide access for residents. “Since then, we have not experienced any flooding, even during the rainy season,” said Dimasangkay. “My children and grandchildren together with other farmers here are very thankful. We have better crops now.”According to a 2009 guide on economic growth published by USAID, a key activity for development agencies in the post-conflict period is to “reduce physical obstacles and eliminate barriers to movement and commerce, particularly for rural and agricultural markets.”In Batiocan, Libungan, in North Cotabato province, GEM built a two-lane concrete barangay bridge to replace the makeshift wooden footbridge across Demapaco Creek Transporting goods across the creek on foot or via the wooden structure had been time-consuming and had posed safety hazards to about 2,400 residents in the area. Sacks of grain were too heavy for the wooden structure and had to be ferried in batches across the creek by motorcycle drivers who charged farmers a minimum of 30 pesos.“With the bigger two-lane bridge, the cost has been lowered to ten pesos,” said barangay head Anecita Develleres, as she watched a heavily laden transport jeepney cross the bridge in seconds.GEM engineers and local partner agencies have observed that BIP projects usually result in a range of “multiplier effects” in addition to the main intended results.Take the Tunggol boat landing built by GEM along the Pulangi River in Datu Montawal, Maguindanao. Before it was built, loading and unloading cargo along the muddy riverbank was a tedious process, particularly during the rainy season. Disembarking was particularly hazardous for children, elderly people and the disabled. Since its construction, the boat landing has helped to lower transport costs and connect once inaccessible communities to market towns, benefitting about 5,000 residents of Tunggol and neighboring barangays. But the boat landing has also attracted entrepreneurs and traders from throughout the province, which means that local farmers have the option of selling their products in nearby Tunggol instead of conveying them at greater cost to more distant towns.The growing volume of transport and trade has increased revenues not just for residents, but for the barangay government as well. About 30 vendors who pay a user’s tax are now doing business next to the Tunggol landing. Boat owners are charged a docking fee which is used to cover the costs of operating and maintaining the facility. Sarah Kalido-Bao, a local nurse, points out that the boat landing allows local women to get more quickly to the maternity clinic close byThe building of a BIP project is always a partnership between the GEM Program and the beneficiary community, which provides at least a 25-percent counterpart contribution–thereby “buying in” to the project’s success.“The local governments have to prove their commitment from the start,” said Engr. Carlos Tan of GEM. “This includes a significant portion of ‘hard’ counterpart contributions, such as construction materials, or construction of a portion of the project. They have to shell out funds. This is what partnership entails.”Occasionally, a local government may decide to back down on its counterpart commitments, even though construction has begun. “In such cases, we halt all assistance to that particular LGU until their obligations are met,” said Tan.“In the meantime, people can see that GEM partnership projects are being built in neighboring municipalities. This creates pressure for the LGU [local government unit] to fulfill its obligations and get the projects done,” said Tan.To ensure that BIPs are being properly maintained and operated by the partner LGUs, the GEM Program deploys a team to monitor the infrastructure projects once they are completed and turned over to the community.BIPs are also the highly visible, tangible fruits of the larger partnership between the U.S. and Philippines governments in accelerating economic growth and supporting peace-building in a region that has suffered decades of intermittent armed conflict.“The timely restoration of infrastructure services helps build confidence in the post-conflict government and makes a return to conflict less likely,” said the 2009 USAID guide.Community-level BIP projects are complemented by GEM’s larger, higher-impact infrastructure projects, designed to support the economic development of a city, province or cluster of municipalities. These include the recent upgrading of the airport runways in Jolo, Sulu, and Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, as well as roll-on, roll-off (RORO) port facilities in Lamitan, Basilan, and other western Mindanao ports.BIPs are also complemented by the “soft” components of the GEM Program, which include reintegrating former combatants of the Moro National Liberation Front, increasing the domestic out-shipments and exports of targeted agricultural commodities, attracting investment in new industries in order to create jobs, and assisting local governments to improve governance.Members of many of the communities where BIPs are located were provided with training in agricultural production and marketing by GEM, which works with growers’ associations and local chambers of commerce to strengthen business activities in their areas of operation. The GEM Program is also helping to prepare Mindanao’s younger generation for the 21st-century economy by providing them with internet-connected computers in schools, involving their communities in improving local education services, and providing them with the English proficiency skills needed to compete in key industries. (GEM)

Via Zamboanga Times

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Neophyte Councilor Percival Ramos has urged beneficiaries of the city’s housing and resettlement program to strictly adhere to the law and to conscientiously and voluntarily comply with their obligations to pay for the monthly amortization to ensure continuous and uninterrupted service from the local government. Ramos, who chairs the Council committee on urban poor, people’s organizations (POs) and non-government organizations (NGOs) was invited to speak before urban poor groups, POs, NGOs and representatives of agencies concerned in implementing a housing and resettlement program in the Zamboanga Housing Summit 2010 held Thursday, July 22 at a local hotel.“While the city government and the NGO’s and PO’s are initiating shared programs for improved access to housing and community services, the urban poor groups and other beneficiaries are also duty bound to strictly adhere to the law and to conscientiously and voluntarily comply with the monthly amortization pay”, Ramos said in his message during the program opening the Housing Summit keynoted by Mayor Celso Lobregat.He continued: “If the needed payments are not properly and promptly made, how can the city’s housing and resettlement program be sustained? The city government together with NGOs and POs need the full cooperation and support of the beneficiaries so that our common goal will be fully accomplished.”As former executive assistant of the mayor, Ramos said he is aware of the urban renewal efforts being initiated by Mayor Celso Lobregat through the Housing and Land Management Division (HLMD), an office created upon the mayor’s assumption in 2004 primarily to oversee and chart the housing arrangements of legitimate and recognized urban poor organizations in the city. The HLMD likewise takes the lead strengthening the city’s role as originator of community mortgage projects (CMP) as well as helps create awareness to intensify collection of monthly amortization of the awardees and beneficiaries of the LGU-CMP projects. “I am fully aware of the urban renewal efforts initiated by the  administration of Mayor Celso Lobregat, through the Housing and Land Management Division to make Zamboanga a squatter-free city and provide constituents, especially the underprivileged families, with sufficient basic services such as health and education”, he stressed. He called on the representatives of urban poor organizations in the city present during the Summit to relay the message to their respective members stressing that “working together and joining hands for a common cause will bring about our desired objectives.”The young councilor thanked the organizers of the Summit, which he said was aptly timed in view of the growing need for reinforced partnerships and alliances between the local government, non-government organizations and people’s organizations to achieve urban renewal and social equality. He stressed that the city has gained significant progress in the campaign to solve the housing problem. At least 12 resettlement sites are being developed by the city with provisions such as water, power, drainage and canals and other amenities. The day-long summit was organized by the Zamboanga Urban Poor Institute for Social Development in coordination with the Partnership of Philippine Support Service Agencies Inc. (PHILSAA) and the City Housing and Land Management Division under Rodrigo Pagotaisidro. (Sheila Covarrubias)

Via Zamboanga Times

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Mayor Celso Lobregat has issued an executive order declaring portions of Don Toribio Street in Tetuan temporarily closed to traffic effective tomorrow, July 27, to pave way for road rehabilitation and reconstruction. This, in line with the city’s ongoing thrust to improve the road network, one of the 10 priority projects under the City Development Strategy (CDS). Executive Order Number CL-344-2010, issued July 21, mandates the temporary closure of a portion of Don Toribio Street and declaring a section of the same stretch as one-way area specifically from its junction with Dr. Estrada Street to its junction with Veterans Avenue. Under the said order, all motor vehicles travelling from Veterans Avenue to Tetuan, Tugbungan or Talon-talon shall not be allowed to use Don Toribio Street but instead Don Alfaro Street, Marquez Drive or Cabato Road Extension. The traffic rerouting scheme is purposely to allow the contractor to undertake the road rehabilitation and reconstruction work unhampered. The temporary closure order will end as soon as the road project is complete. Copies of the executive order have been furnished to City Police OIC Director Col. Edwin de Ocampo and the police traffic division for proper implementation starting tomorrow, July 27, Tuesday. The city’s traffic aides together with personnel from the Police Traffic Division are expected to coordinate with each other to ensure smooth traffic flow in the affected area. (Richard Aliangan/PIO-CMO)

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