The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers (TOPS) 2011

Philippine Army Commissioned Officer Category

Colonel Daniel A. Lucero
Commander
103rd Infantry Brigade, 1st Infantry Division,
Kampo Ranao, Lanao del Sur.

A military man has long been seen as stoic and content to let his actions speak for him, but what differentiates a man who has been appointed to speak for his peers? This was a challenge faced by Col. Daniel A. Lucero, who was appointed as spokesperson of Southern Command in Zamboanga City in 2002, and as Chief of the Public Information Office of the AFP and concurrent Spokesperson in 2003.

His 24/7 availability to the media, along with his skillful handling, allowed him to effectively respond to the negative feedback thrown against the AFP during his assignment as Spokesperson. As Commander of the 18th Infantry Battalion stationed in Basilan, his group received the Commanding General-Philippine Army Streamer Award for 2001.

The success of the Balikatan Exercises became a model for the Americans who fought in Afghanistan and Iraq, and resulted in relative peace in Basilan from 2001 to 2006. He graduated from the Philippine Military Academy in 1983, holds Masters Degrees from the University of the Philippines, and obtained a degree in International Relations from the Australian National University. Col. Daniel A. Lucero is married with one child.


Enlisted Personnel Category

Master Sergeant Sixto P. Navarrosa
Chief Clerk
Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Civil Military Operations, G-7,
Philippine Army, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City

A young man with a high school education joins the Army to find a better life for himself and finds the hero within. It’s a classic story, but a true one in the case of MSgt Sixto P. Navarrosa, who has spent 23 years in the AFP and has emerged as one of the Philippine Army’s most notable men.

Rescue has become a specialty for him after 1997, starting with his leadership of the Rescue Team of the 18th Special Forces of the Army’s Special Operations Command in conducting fire-fighting and rescue operations in Makati.

He is also one of the organizers and coordinators of 2001’s Operation LIGAYA, which improved relations between the AFP and the areas Christian and Muslim residents, in addition to benefitting 1,755 residents through medical and dental outreach programs. For all of these external activities, he has also become a valued adviser, mentor, coach, and counselor to his subordinates. MSgt Navarrosa is married with two children.


Chief Master Sergeant Billy C. Benebile
Command Sergeant Major
Civil Operations Group, Philippine Army, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City

Chief Master Sergeant Billy Benebile’s career is proof that information can be just as effective a tool for fighting for ones country as taking up arms. The official term is psychological operations, and under his command, it has become as much a vehicle to help as it is a part of the battle for the nation’s soul.

Known as one of the Philippine Army’s Civil Military Operations Group’s (CMOG) most able leaders, he has supervised the creation and distribution of leaflets, posters, brochures, and many types of cyber propaganda in the name of combating the country’s enemies through persuasion, exposure, influence, and knowledge. In addition, CMOG has also retained a regular schedule of medical and dental civic action programs, security assistance, and humanitarian assistance drives.

For all his actions, he has been justly acclaimed by his peers and was awarded the Visayas Command AFP Enlisted Man of the Year for 1992. CMSgt Billy Benabile was born in Zaragoza, Balasan, Iloilo, and is married with three children.


Philippine Navy


Commissioned Officer Category
Colonel Alexander F. Balutan
Brigade Commander
1st Marine Brigade, Lebak, Sultan Kudarat

As a brigade commander, Col. Alexander F. Balutan was instrumental in having political leaders in Lanao and Marawi City committed to a peace covenant days before the elections.

As Major, he took down the third-largest MILF camp, neutralizing 300 MILF bunkers and felling Camp Belal, and, as Commanding Officer, he conducted 6 major ground operations, resulting in the neutralization of seven, apprehension of 19 MILF, and the recovery of four kidnap-for-ransom victims.

Also much admired as a mentor, he supervised the creation of a Student Regulation Manual for the Military Training Group and organized the conduct of marksmanship training and crowd control training, among others. Col. Alexander Balutan graduated from the Philippine Military Academy in 1983, holds a Masters Degree from Manuel L. Quezon University, and is married with six children.


Enlisted Personnel Category


TSgt. Rommel V. Carbon
Assistant Operations Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO)
Intelligence Service AFP, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City

Life as an operations soldier is never as glamorous as the movies make it sound: taking up arms against the country’s enemies is an exceedingly difficult prospect that the men and women of the Armed Forces take on with a great sense of purpose.

After graduating from Notre Dame University at 22, TSgt Carbon decided to join the Philippine Marine Corps and, within five years, was already a distinguished member of the 10th Marine Company. In possibly the most notable encounter of his career, he was involved in a successful campaign to root out the whereabouts of the Abu Sayyaf group hiding in Zamboanga, which led to the death of notorious ASG leader Abu Sabaya.

TSgt Carbon has also proven to be effective when it comes to putting his experience to work to help his fellow servicemen by formulating several field operations manuals for the AFP. In addition to this, he has distinguished himself with his work formulating the AFP Source Control System. TSgt Rommel V. Carbon is married with three children.


Data Processor 3 Jairus M. Cenabre
Field Agent
Naval Intelligence and Security Group
National Capital Region
National Intelligence and Security Force, JFNS

If knowledge is truly power, then there are few enlisted men as powerful as DP3 Jairus Cenabre, one of the extraordinary standouts of the Naval Intelligence and Security Group (NISG), and a 14-year veteran of the Navy. He has truly made a mark on the matter of policing the country’s resources by tracking down a civilian believed to have created homemade explosives, uncovering an illegal fishing operation at Manila Bay, and busting a Korean national for housing a warehouse of illegal explosive agents, among others.

For this, he emerged as NISG-NCR Field Agent of the Month for eight consecutive months. To this day, he maintains 23 assets and informants in the name of protecting our peace and the country’s resources. DP3 Jairus Cenabre hails from Cebu City, graduated with a degree in Computer Science from the University of San Jose-Recoletos, and is married with two children.


Philippine Air Force Commissioned Officer Category


Colonel Raul del Rosario
Assistant Chief of Air Staff for Intelligence
Office of the Assistant Chief of Air Staff for Intelligence, Philippine Air Force HQ, Pasay City

He is an officer and a gentleman, both in land and air, and a hero to the people he serves and the people who serve under him. As the outstanding Commissioned Officer of the Philippine Air Force, Col. Raul del Rosario earned a Bachelor of Science from the Philippine Military Academy in 1984, and promptly joined the Philippine Air Force thereafter.

In 1997, he provided tactical air reconnaissance that delivered photographs of flotilla in battle formation at the Kalayaan Islands, which strengthened the Philippine case. Col. Del Rosario has led many teams in his career, including the extrication and neutralization of an explosive device in Savers Mall, which saved hundreds of people from death or injury. Utilizing his Masters Degree in Management Defense Studies from the University of Canberra in Australia, he has also overseen several administrative changes in the AFP. Col. Del Rosario hails from Lupao, Nueva Ecija, and is married with one child.


Philippine Air Force Enlisted Personnel Category


Master Sergeant Ma. Teresa M. Bitong
Non Commissioned Officer in Charge, Director for Materiel
Philippine Air Force Officer Candidate School, Air Education and Training Command, Fernando Air Base, Lipa City

As the lone female in this years honors, MSgt Bitong is a standout in many ways. Her first few years in the Air Force were spent in service with the Presidential Security Group (PSG), providing guard to the late President Corazon Aquino during some of the most fraught years in her presidency.

Numerous citations tell of MSgt Bitong’s bravery, including a Gold Cross Medal without Bronze Anahaw Leaf, a Bronze Cross Medal for her work as a helicopter gunner in Basilan, and recognition as the PAF Enlisted Person of the Year in 1993 chosen as AFP Women Auxiliary Corps of the Year 1884.

For her involvement in the AFP-aided communities, she earned three Gawad sa Kaunlaran and an Award of the Sagisag ng Ulirang Kawal for her involvement in the Southern Philippines Observation and Tracking System, which rewarded her for her air operations monitoring environmental violations in Mindanao. MSgt Teresa Bitong, with 22 years in the record of service, hails from Mataas na Kahoy, Batangas, and is married with two children.


Master Sergeant Nelson S. Mercado
School Sergeant Major
Philippine Air Force Technical and Specialization Training School, Air Education and Training Command, Fernando Air Base, Lipa City


In another life, he probably would have been an inventor, engineer, entrepreneur, or a man of industry, but instead, the Philippine Air Force has been the grateful repository for the talents of MSgt. Nelson Mercado. He joined the PAF in 1987 and, with a total of 22 years as technical instructor, he has instructed thousands of students and trainees in Quality Management lectures.

As an engineer and technician, he has saved the PAF millions of pesos by repairing various heavily damaged aircrafts and transforming a corroded T-53 engine into a training mock-up. He has also become the face of the PAF to various elementary and high school students visiting the Fernando Air Base, which gives him the opportunity to showcase the capability of the Air Force and inspire the youth to join the PAF. MSgt. Nelson S. Mercado is married with three children.


National Development Award (Corps of Engineers)
Col. Alexis D. Tamondong
Deputy Brigade Commander
54th Engineer Brigade, Philippine Army, Camp Tito Abat, Manaoag, Pangasinan


What business does a man with two Bachelors degrees in engineering and three Masters Degrees have in the military? Col. Alexis Tamondong of the Philippine Army Corps of Engineers says he is there because the military’s business is to build not to destroy and bring happiness thru development not sorrow. A central pivot in many of the AFPs most ambitious civil building projects of the past two decades, Col. Tamondong initiated a new design for the construction of a 55 meter long hanging footbridge in Negros Occidental utilizing environment friendly materials.

Aside from his constructions projects, Col. Tamondong has also helped build road and bridges to the community and conducting 61 different MEDCAP missions in Negros Island, benefitting 31,208 indigent residents.

He has also distinguished himself on the battlefield in 1984, while serving as a training officer and security platoon leader, when he fought back against an ambush by a numerically superior enemy at Bgy. Tandaay and Nierva, Nabua, Camarines Sur.

For his acts of heroism, he was awarded the Gold Cross Medal and the Wounded Personnel Medal for gallantry in action. He was also a recipient of three bronze medals from Southern Command for saving lives and causing the peaceful surrender of several ASG and MILF rebels in Basilan. He was also recognized with three Gawad sa Kaunlaran Award, one of which was awarded by former President Fidel V. Ramos during the 61st AFP Anniversary for his community development role in nation building.

Col. Alexis Tamondong, from Quezon City, has been with the Army for 29 years, and is married with three children.


Link: https://www.facebook.com/notes/the-outstanding-philippine-soldiers-tops/meet-your-2011-outstanding-philippine-soldiers/150093185062157

Estudyante muling nagprotesta sa pagbubukas ng klase!

Protesta konta mataas na matrikula sa mga paaralan sa Davao City sa Mindanao. (Kuha ni Karlos Manlupig)

DAVAO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / June 6, 2011) - Muli na naman nagprotesta ang mga estudyante sa lungsod ng Davao sa Mindanao dahil sa mataas na matrikula at kasabahay nito ang pagbubukas ng klase ngayon Lunes.

Dala ang mga placard, buong tapang naman na binatikos ng mga nag-protesta ang walang humpay na implementasyon ng tuition fee increase.

Suportado rin ng maraming estudyante sa ibat-ibang unibersidad at kolehiyo ang hinaing mga nag-protesta.

Ayon sa Commission on Elections ay mahigit sa 280 mga paaralan, kabilang ang halos tatlong dosena mula Davao region ang nagtaas ng matrikula at miscellaneous fees.

UNESCO sponsors IWRMM write-shop in Davao City

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 6, 2011) – Some 30 stakeholders from various sectors have finished a daylong write-shop sponsored by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in Davao City in the southern Philippines.

It was the first review of the customized Integrated Water and Resources Management Mechanisms Training Module for Davao City and the region. The activity was hosted by the National Economic Development Authority in partnership with the local government and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Department of Science and Technology.

Dr Antony Sales, DOST Regional Director, invited the participants to give constructive feedback on the structure, flow and effectiveness of the modules to ensure that the tools will be something useful to and appreciated by the locals.

Declan Hearne, HELP Davao Coordinator and Development Consultant, also highlighted that the “customization of the IWRM guidelines is the first example of a localized training manual for IWRM using the innovative spiral approach.”

The spiral approach is a conceptual module that allows water users and managers track progress and beneficial impacts from investing in water management over time.

Security forces, Moro rebels clashed in Lanao Sur

LANAO DEL SUR, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 5, 2011) – Security forces clashed with former Moro rebels believed to be holding a kidnapped Filipino in the southern province of Lanao del Sur in Mindanao Island, an army commander said Sunday.

Colonel Daniel Lucero, commander of the 103^rd Infantry Brigade, said gunmen headed by Nasser Lopoc first attacked police forces sent to rescue Amerodin Tomara in the village of Gacap in Balindong town.

The attack sparked a firefight between the two groups until army soldiers arrived to reinforce the policemen, Lucero said. “At least 12 gunmen clashed with security forces,” he told the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.

He said the fighting stopped after the gunmen retreated to the hinterlands. Lucero did not give details about the kidnapping or its motive. (Mindanao Examiner)

Feud leaves 4 dead in Southern Philippines

MARAWI CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 5, 2011) – Four people were killed on Sunday in a firefight between two warring Muslim families in the southern Philippine province of Lanao del Sur, officials said.

Officials said the clash broke out in the village of Malalis in Sultan Dumalundong town between the group of Arimao Asum, the father of Lumbayanague town mayor Jama Asum, and Polo and Aliasgar Alim.

Those killed were identified as Batara Asum, Madi Asum and Amer Tangol, all from of Lumbayanague town. One from Asum’s side was also wounded. One from Alim’s group, Saad Ali, was also killed in the fighting, said Army Colonel Daniel Lucero, commander of military forces in the province.

“We have sent soldiers in the area to help prevent more bloodshed,” he told the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.

He said the fighting only stopped after the military and local government officials mediated a cease-fire.

The fighting was believed connected to the killing of Macacna Asum, who was allegedly shot by Polo Alim in Marawi City in 2002. Asum was killed after he failed to pay his debts to Alim.

Clan war or locally known as “rido” is common in many parts of the southern Philippines. The U.S. Agency for International Development and think-tank Asia Foundation said that more than 3,000 people have been killed over the past seven decades in family feuds in the southern Philippines.

Rido can involve disputes among family members or among two or more rival families, pitting neighbors or different ethnic groups against each other. The disputes center on issues of land, money, marriage or political power and involve revenge killings.

The violence increases with each act of retaliation, broadening to include those not directly involved in the dispute, including women and children, according to the Asia Foundation, adding, some feuds lasted for decades. (Mindanao Examiner)

4 out 10 towns in PH have no fire station

MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 5, 2011) – A Filipino lawmaker on Sunday said four out of every 10 towns in the country have absolutely no firefighting capability.

Rep. Arnel Ty said the government has failed to build at least one fire station in every town as required by a 21-year old law.

He also cited a report that said at least 613 of the country’s 1,502 municipalities still do not have a single fire station.

“In the absence of immediate and adequate firefighting capabilities, human lives as well as properties in the affected municipalities are at grave risk of being lost and instantly destroyed in an accidental blaze,” Ty, a member of the House Committee on Public Order and Safety, said in a statement sent to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.

He said Republic Act 6975, the 1990 law creating the Department of the Interior and Local Government, mandates the establishment of at least one fire station in every municipality nationwide.

He said Section 56 of the law states: “There shall be established at least one (1) fire station with adequate personnel, firefighting facilities and equipment in every provincial capital, city and municipality subject to the standards, rules and regulations as may be promulgated by the Department. The local government unit shall, however, provide the necessary land or site for the station.”

Ty also urged the House Committee on Appropriations and Committee on Local Government, to jointly look into the implementation of RA 6975, to “ascertain the conditions, financial or otherwise, that have prevented the DILG from establishing at least one fire station in every municipality, as required by law.”

In House Resolution 1228, Ty listed the regional breakdown of the number of towns per province lacking a single fire station: Cordillera: Abra (22); Apayao (3); Benguet (7); Ifugao (6); Kalinga (5); Mountain Province (6); Ilocos: Ilocos Norte (7); Ilocos Sur (16); La Union (10); Pangasinan (15); Cagayan Valley: Cagayan (6); Isabela (13); Nueva Vizcaya (7); Quirino (1); Central Luzon: Aurora (3); Bulacan (1); Nueva Ecija (4); Pampanga (5); Tarlac (4); Zambales (2); CALABARZON: Batangas (8); Cavite (3); Quezon (5); Laguna (5); MIMAROPA: Oriental Mindoro (11); Palawan (6); Romblon (10); Bicol: Albay (4); Camarines Norte (3); Camarines Sur (8).

And Catanduanes (7); Masbate (15); Sorsogon (7); Western Visayas: Aklan (10); Antique (12); Capiz (7); Guimaras (1); Iloilo (8); Negros Occidental (6); Central Visayas: Bohol (30); Cebu (5); Negros Oriental (10); Siquijor (3); Eastern Visayas: Biliran (3); Eastern Samar (13); Leyte (15); Northern Samar (6); Southern Leyte (9); Western Samar (8); Zamboanga Peninsula: Zamboanga del Norte (14); Zamboanga del Sur (22); Zamboanga Sibugay (7); Northern Mindanao: Bukidnon (6); Camiguin (1); Lanao del Norte (14); Misamis Occidental (8); Misamis Oriental (10); Davao: Compostella Valley (3); Davao del Norte (3); Davao del Sur (6); Davao Oriental (3); SOCCSKSARGEN: North Cotabato (6); Sarangani (3); South Cotabato (1); Sultan Kudarat (6); Caraga: Agusan del Norte (5); Agusan del Sur (8); Dinagat Islands (5); Surigao del Norte (12); Surigao del Sur (5); Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao: Basilan (9); Lanao del Sur (37); Maguindanao (25); Sulu (10); Tawi-Tawi (3).

Novaliches gets 2 more congressional districts

MANILA, Philippines - After waiting for more than two decades, residents of Novaliches in Quezon City will, at last, be getting two additional congressional districts in the coming mid-term elections in May 2013.

This, after the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading House Bill No. 4245 “reapportioning the second legislative district of Quezon City, thereby creating two additional legislative districts and 12 Sangguniang Panlungsod seats from such reapportionment.”

The measure was introduced by Quezon City Second District Rep. Winston Castelo and co-authored by House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. (4th District), Rep. Jorge John Banal Jr. (3rd District), Rep. Vincent Crisologo (1st District), and Bagong Henerasyon Party-List Rep. Bernadette Dy.

Under the bill, Novaliches, currently the biggest congressional district in Metro Manila, and the entire country, with a voting population of over 600,000 will be divided into three congressional districts.

At present, Quezon City is composed of four legislative districts as apportioned in an ordinance appended to the 1987 Constitution by the Constitutional Commission of 1986 during the administration of the late President Corazon Aquino .

Once H.B. 4245 is approved by the Senate and signed into law by President Benigno S. Aquino III, the number of Quezon City’s legislative districts will increase to six, the same as that of Manila. The number of Quezon City councilors will likewise increase to 36 from the present 24.

The newly-created legislative districts will be called District 5 and District 6. The present three other congressional districts of Quezon City will maintain a status quo.

Under the bill, the current second legislative district will retain the following big and populous barangays: Bagong Silangan, Batasan Hills (site of the Batasang Pambansa), Commonwealth, Holy Spirit, and Payatas.

The new Legislative District 5 will be composed of Barangays Novaliches Proper, Bagbag, Capri, Greater Lagro, Gulod, Kaligayahan, Nagkaisang Nayon, North Fairview, Pasong Putik Proper, San Agustin, San Bartolome, Santa Lucia, Santa Monica, and Fairview Proper.

On the other hand, District 6 will be comprised of Barangays Talipapa, Sauyo, Tandang Sora, Sangandaan, Pasong Tamo, Culiat, New Era, Baesa, Balon-Bato, Unang Sigaw and Apolonio Samson.

The congressmen and councilors of the two additional districts will be elected during the May 2013 mid-term polls. The bill has been transmitted to the Senate for its concurrence. (Severino Samonte)

$16M anti-poverty fund released in Mindanao: MRDP

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 5, 2011) - The anti-poverty program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) has spent multimillion dollars to uplift lives in rural Mindanao, officials said Sunday.

Entering its mid-term, the DA’s Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP) has disbursed a total of $16.05 million for its projects ranging from infrastructure, livelihoods, environmental protection and local governance reform.

The said amount is 19.71 percent of the Program’s $83.752 loan portfolio from the World Bank.

MRDP is a five-year Program jointly funded the WB, plus the counterpart equity of the national government unit and local government units with a total Program funding of $123.652 million. The program is implemented across the six regions of Mindanao covering 225 of the 420 towns and cities.

Lealyn Ramos, Program Director, in a report to Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, noted that the Rural Infrastructure (RI) component of the program has a total portfolio of P10.812 million with 970 subprojects at various stages of implementation.

RI completed a total of 160.44 kilometers from the 52 farm-to-market roads projects amounting P222.26 million; nine bridges with a total length of 83.60 meters; one irrigation project servicing 100-hectare rice field; nine units of potable water systems and 3 units of solar driers with warehouses.

The livelihood arm of the Program, the Community Fund for agricultural Development (CFAD), got a total portfolio of P495.51 million spent in food security interventions, community managed livelihoods and small support infrastructure.

Of the amount, P149.62 million for 671 agri-based enterprises; P85.34 million for 365 livelihoods are on-going and 953 projects amounting P260.56 million are ready for implementation.

The Natural Resources Management (NRM) component that focuses on environmental protection and conservation activities in critical food production has completed seven on-the-round investments (OGI) amounting P13.318 million; 24 OGIs worth P44.409 million are on-going; 11 OGIs worth P19.203 are ready for implementation.

Other spending was devoted to trainings for the improvement of local governance, capacity building of the people’s organizations and program management.

“We have benefited thousands of households and individuals. In our CFAD alone, we have extended assistance to at approximately 50,000 individuals and about 30 percent of them belong to indigenous peoples organizations, considered to be the most marginalized sector.”

“We are now seeing the impact of the collaborative efforts of DA, our partner agencies like DENR, NCIP, BFAR, BSWM, and especially the local government units who are at the frontline of implementations,” Ramos said.(Sherwin Manual)

Training ug dugang pang-apod-apod sa binhi sa humay sa kabarangayan, gipahigayon

BUTUAN CITY (Mindanao Examiner / June 4, 2011) - Gipahigayon sa buhatan sa City Agriculture og igong pagbansay-bansay sa barangay Ambago ug pagpang-apod-apod sa mga binhi sa humay didto sa barangay Amparo dili pa lang dugay.

Kini nga bulohaton gidumala ni Engr. Alberto Buca, hepe sa maong buhatan inubanan sa iyang mga personahe tumong sa pag-edukar ug mapun-an ang kahibalo sa mga katawhan kabahin sa pang-agrikultura nga mao’y makaabag sa ilang mga panginabuhian.

Sa laing bahin nagpadayon usab ang pang- apod-apod sa binhi sa humay, usa sa mga programa sa lokal nga panggamhanan aron maabagan ang mga mag-uuma ni’ng dakbayan.

Tungod niini, gipaniguro ni Mayor Ferdinand Amante, Jr. nga dili mobati ug kagutom ang mga katawhan sa dakbayan tungod kay adunay abundang pananom nga tubag sa problema sa kakulangan sa pagkaon. (Ritchelle F. Encabo)

Maruming tubig sa Zamboanga, inireklamo!

Malaki ang kaibahan ng mineral water (kanan) at ang sample (kaliwa) ng maruming tubig na lumalabas sa gripo sa Zamboanga sa Mindanao. Ang Zamboanga City Water District ang nagsu-supply ng tubig sa buong lungsod. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Hunyo 4, 2011) - Dumarami na ang nagrereklamo sa maraming tubig na lumalabas sa mga gripo sa Zamboanga City sa Mindanao.

Malimit umanong dumudumi ang mga tubig sa tuwing nagkakaroon ng malakas na pag-ulan. Isang ginang, si Flor Custodio, ang nagsabing tatlong araw na umano itong may diarrhea at ang maraming tubig na kanyang nainom sa gripo ang itinuturong dahilan.

“Grabe at talaga palang ang dumi at parang nahaluan ng putik ang tubig na lumalabas sa gripo ngayon. Di ko naman napansin na marumi pa lang yun tubig na nainom ko at tatlong araw na akong pumupurupot,” ani Custodio sa isang panayam.

Mabuti na lamang umano at hindi nakainom ng maraming tubig ang mga anak nitong maliliit pa. “Kaya ngayon ay pinakukuluan na namin ang tubig na galing sa gripo,” dagdag pa nito.

Marami na rin kaso ng diarrhea sa Zamboanga, subalit hindi pa malinaw kung saan ito nakuha.

Agad naman ibinabato ng Zamboanga City Water District ang sisi sa mga gumagamit umano ng mga booster pump at leaking pipe lines at tubo ng tubig na dumaraan sa mga kanal kung kaya’t marumi umano ang daloy nito.

Ngunit tulad ng kay Custodio ay wala naman itong booster pump at wala rin leaking ang kanilang tubo ng tubig. “Eh kung may leaking (ang tubo namin) sana araw-araw marumi ang tubig na lumalabas sa gripo,” wika nito.

Ito rin ang reklamo ni Jeng Fernandez. “Marumi talaga at pinagkumpara nga namin yun tubig sa gripo at yun mineral water namin at makikita ang diperensya. Ganyan ang water district at malimit yan sa tuwing may ulan. Ewan ko ba, pero sa ibang mga lugar tulad sa Maynila, at ibang bahagi ng Mindanao ay hindi naman ganyan,” reklamo pa nito.

Sinabi naman ng isang nagpakilala si Penaranda mula sa water treatment plant ay may ginagawa umanong tubo ang Zamboanga City Water District. Ngunit hindi naman mabatid kung bakit narumihan ang daluyan ng tubig.

Minsan na rin inireklamo ng isang pamilya na may lumabas rin na maliit na bulati sa kanyang gripo sa banyo at mula noon ay mineral water na ang iniinom ng nila. (Mindanao Examiner)

Ilocos Norte’s 1st renewable power plant feeds clean energy to northern towns

ILOCOS NORTE, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 4, 2011) - Way before the building of the first Philippine wind farm in the province in 2005, Ilocos Norte’s status as a center for clean, cheap and renewable energy can be traced as far back as the 1980s.

The mini-hydro power plant, built by the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative along the Agua Grande River along the Pancian and Pasaleng rivers in this town, supplies power to more than 17,000 households in Pagudpud and nearby villages in Bangui, Pasuquin and Bacarra towns.

Named after the Agua Grande river, the plant has a generating capacity of 5 megawatts but its actual production is pegged at 1 megawatt because only two of the five water turbines are running.

Engineer Renato Balintec, Inec general manager, said the amount of water flow is not enough to power all the five turbines.

A study has been commissioned for the putting up of another hydro power plant to harness water resources from the Pagudpud rivers. Built in the 1980s, the run-of-the-river type plant generates power depending on the volume of rainfall that flows down the reservoir. Power produced from the hydro power plant is cheaper by 40 percent.

The Department of Energy has encouraged development of mini-hydropower resources with the passage of the Mini-hydroelectric Power Incentives Act, which gives incentives to proponents and investors who wish to participate in the country’s mini-hydropower development program.

According to the DoE website, the Philippines has 1,132.476 megawatts in identified mini-hydropower resource potential.

Fifty-one hydropower plants operate across the country, with a combined capacity of 82.07 megawatts, a mere 7.2 percent of the identified potential.

Aside from opportunities to develop new mini-hydro projects, the government has also encouraged investments in the rehabilitation of existing plants to raise efficiency.

A proposed program encourages private developers to enter into an implementation scheme with owners of mini-hydro plants.

The DoE, in partnership with the National Electrification Administration, has so far identified seven plants for rehabilitation.With the hydropower plant, INEC is also building its capability to compete in the wholesale electricity spot market, in which electric cooperatives, distribution utilities and large-scale power buyers will be given equal opportunities to buy power at the best possible price by trading electricity via the Internet. (Cristina Arzadon)

Philippine Navy opens independent film competition

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Navy in cooperation with the Cultural Center of the Philippines is inviting film enthusiasts to join the independent film competition in celebration of the Navy’s 113th founding anniversary.

The contest is open to all Filipino filmmakers, including Philippine Navy personnel and their dependents focusing on the theme “Philippine Navy: A Vital Partner for Peace, Security, and Development of our Maritime Nation.”

According to the Naval Public Affairs Office, the independent film contest aims to feature the Philippine Navy as a partner of the Filipino people in nation building, upholding peace and security, and development.

All entries should be in digital video format, not exceeding 60 minutes, and must be strictly independent works, not to be produced or released for commercial screening.

Winners will get a chance to win P40,000 for the first prize, P25,000 for the second prize, and P15,000 for the third prize.

Deadline for submission of entries is on October 14, 2011, before 5:00 p.m. at the Office of the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff for Civil Military Operations, N7, Philippine Navy Headquarters, Roxas Boulevard, Manila. All winners will be announced on December 17, 2011. Entry forms may be downloaded at the Navy website at www.navy.mil.ph. (Jell E. Guzman)

Muslim groups appeal to Manila Mayor, OMB Chief

A pirated digital video disc of Jim Croce bought in the Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

MARAWI CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 4, 2011) – Various multi-sectoral groups and Muslim leaders in the southern Philippines have appealed to City of Manila to give ample time to traders selling digital video discs in Quiapo District to relocate after authorities gave an ultimatum for them to leave the place.

The groups appealed to Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and Ronnie Rickets, chairman of the Optical Media Board, to allow the traders, mostly small Muslims businessmen, to prepare and relocate their trade. Lim said many of the traders are selling pirated movie discs.

Sultan Datu Topaan Disomimba, the mayor Tamparan town and concurrent chairman of the 16 Royal Houses of Lanao region also appealed to Lim and Rickets to extend order.

Disomimba said many Muslim traders sought his help to appeal on their behalf. “We are talking about small-time business here where many families and children are depending for their daily sustenance. All we are asking is a little more time to prepare for the relocation,” he said.

He said the abrupt relocation of the traders and their family will have an impact to their own survival. “Many of those selling digital discs in Quiapo have been there for so many years now and they need government assistance to support their livelihood,” he said.

But authorities said the area has become a shopping haven for pirated movie videos.

Lim said he has given the traders one month to remove their stalls which have occupied virtually every single space and sidewalks in Quiapo, and affected the flow of traffic and pedestrians in the Manila business district.

He said the traders must leave Quiapo before July 1. (With a report from Asa Madale)

Poll watchdog urges COMELEC to automate ARMM elections

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 3, 2011) – An election watchdog urged the Commission on Elections to automate the polls in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is it will push through this year.

The Citizens Coalition for ARMM Electoral Reform (C-CARE) has earlier joined the mounting calls for the postponement of the elections in the restive region, but said if elections would push through it would be better to automate the polls to prevent fraud or cheating just like in previous elections.

Elections are set on August, but Congress is divided whether to pursue the polls or synchronize it with the midterm elections in 2013. President Benigno Aquino also wanted the ARMM polls postponed and synchronize it with the 2013 elections.

The COMELEC said it may hold manual vote counting in the regional polls instead of the Precinct Count Optical Scan machines used in the May 2010 Presidential elections because of lack of time to prepare for automated polls. (With a report from Romy Elusfa)

PAGCOR, bayad na sa utang ng nakaraang administrasyon!

MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Hunyo 3, 2011) – Nagbayad ng mahigit sa P1.6 bilyon ang Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) sa mga utang nito sa Philippine National Bank at Land Bank of the Philippines at ayon sa chairman nito ay malaki ang naitipid ng ahensya kung kaya’t nabayaran agad ang mga obligasyon.

“When the present PAGCOR management assumed office in July 2010, the remaining bank loans of the corporation stood at P1.66 billion. We completed prepayment of the borrowed amount solely through internal funding,” pagmamalaki pa ni PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Cristino Naguiat, Jr.

Nabatid pang ang pinagkakautangan ng PAGCOR ay mula sa salaping ipinambayad ng nakaraang administrasyon ni Pangulong Gloria Arroyo sa Philippine Reclamation Authority na ngayon ay Philippine Estates Authority sa proyekto nitong Entertainment City, isang reclaimed area, sa Parañaque City.

Dapat sana ay sa 2014 pa magtatapos ang loan, ngunit sinabi ni Naguiat na malaki ang natipid ng PAGCOR sa pagbabayad ng maaga sa utang. “The loans had a payment term of six years or until 2014, but PAGCOR management deemed it prudent to settle obligations from internally-generated cash,” wika nito.

Nakatipid ito ng P101.17 milyon sa pagbabayad ng interest.

Ang Entertainment City ay isang integrated resort complex na siyang magiging flagship tourism project ng pamahalaan at inaasahang daragsain ito ng mga turista.

Ipinagmalaki pa ni Naguiat na kumita ang PAGCOR ng mahigit sa P11 milyon mula Enero hanggang Abril halos P1 bilyon ang laki kung ihahambing sa nakaraang sa nakaraang taon.

“Sound business decisions and cost-saving measures also enabled the agency to reduce its operating expenses by almost 14% during the first four months of the year. Total savings during the period amounted to P688 million. For the month of April alone, PAGCOR had about P140 million in savings,” ayon pa sa opisyal.

Malaki ang kontribusyon ng PAGCOR sa kaban ng bayan at napupunta ang kinikita nito sa Social Fund ng Pangulog, sa Philippine Sports Commission, at iba pang ahensya. (Mindanao Examiner)

Filipino engineer kidnapped in Basilan province

BASILAN, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Jun 3, 2011) – Suspected Abu Sayyaf militants seized a Filipino construction engineer on Friday in the restive southern Filipino province of Basilan, officials said.

Officials said the victim Engineer Virgilio Fernandez, of Mace Construction, was snatched in the village of Bulanting in Lamitan City. “Troops have launched a rescue operation to recover the hostage,” said Army Lieutenant Colonel Randolph Cabangbang, a regional military spokesman.

He said initial military reports tagged Muhmin and Musana Jamiri as behind the latest kidnapping.

The motive of the abduction is still unknown, but the Abu Sayyaf has been involved in many kidnappings for ransoms in the southern Philippines.

Jamiri’s group was also behind the kidnapping in December of a resort owner, Larry delos Santos, who are still being held captive for ransom. The militants demanded P20 million for the victim’s freedom.

The group is also suspected as behind the kidnapping in May of a 16-year old student, Nico Sebastian, in Basilan’s Tuburan town. Sebastian was first reported missing by his family after he failed to come home.

But a man phoned Sebastian’s family to say that the teenager is being held for ransom and would only release the hostage in exchange for P2.5 million. (Mindanao Examiner)

Barangay tanod, nasungkit ang P356M Grand Lotto jackpot!

MAYNILA (Mindanao Examiner / Hunyo 2, 2011) – Halos wala umanong tulog at matindi ang kaba ng magtungo sa Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office ang isang 60-anyos na barangay tanod upang kunin ang kanyang napanalunan sa lotto - P356,552,917.20! Sinabi ng PCSO na isa lamang ang nagwagi sa Grand Lotto 6/55 na matagal rin tinutukan ng marami sa hangad na maging super milyonaryo matapos na lumubo ang jackpot nito.

Nabatid pang matagal rin inalagaan ng barangay tanod ang numerong 09-05-26-30-19-45 na siyang lumabas sa bola nitong Hunyo 1 lamang. Binase umano nito ang mga numero sa kanilang wedding anniversary at petsa ng mga birthdays ng pamilya.

Anim ang anak ng bagong milyonaryo.

Lupa at bahay, at negosyo agad ang balak ng barangay tanod na taga-Las Pinas at mapagtapos sa pagaaral ang mga anak. Nagpa-plano rin umanong umuwi sa kanilang probinsiya ang buong pamilya bilang siguridad, ayon pa sa PCSO.

Hindi rin pinangalanan ng PCSO ang lotto outlet na kung saan tumaya ang barangay tanod dahil baka umano mapagkamalan na ang may-ari nito ang siyang nagwagi sa Grand Lotto 6/55 draw. Ngunit P500,000 naman ang mapupunta sa outlet bilang commission.

Sinabihan rin ng PCSO ang nagwagi na ideposito agad sa ibat-ibang bangko ang malaking halaga upang masigurong nasa mabuti itong pangangalaga.

Nuong nakaraang taon ay isang balik-bayan naman ang nanalo ng P741 milyon sa Grand Lotto 6/55. Tax-free ang lahat ng napapanalunan sa lotto. (Mindanao Examiner)

Amnesty International in the Philippines joins 50th anniversary celeb

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Jun 2, 2011) – “To freedom,” hailed a huge crowd of peace and human rights advocates as they raised their drinking glasses at a plaza in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines to join the largest human rights organization, Amnesty International, in celebrating its 50th anniversary on May 28.

They also made a ‘Global Call for Action’ to tip scales against repression and injustice during a ‘Toast for Human Rights’ concert here.

“Fifty years ago, a big number of individuals wrote to the President of Portugal seeking amnesty for the two students who were imprisoned simply because they toast for freedom. Because of such overwhelming concern from people in different countries the students were set free.”

“British lawyer Peter Benenson who urged his friends to appeal to the Portuguese government together with other letter senders later gathered and realized that a simple joined action can change people’s lives. So, Amnesty International began,” said Francis Marcial, Board member of Amnesty in the Philippines.

Marcial said that the celebration is a look back at Amnesty’s impact that brought change to lives of people and to reflect how human rights advocates can bring further change through their own actions. He added that Amnesty made great contributions to human rights in the Philippines.

“AI is one of the organizations who inspired the prisoners during Marshal Law to be hopeful and never stop. AI worked for the abolition of death penalty in the Philippines. In Zamboanga City, students from Ateneo de Zamboanga University and Zamboanga Arturo Eustaquio College now Universidad de Zamboanga gathered signatures passing the Juvenile Justice System Bill. These are few of the impact that Amnesty and its supporters made here in our country. Human rights advocacy indeed is meaningful,” explained Marcial.

The concert featured local Zamboangueño artists Moeracquels Band, Aprodite Jumica Sencio, Jelimar Masdal, New Soul Band, Top Dogs Zamboanga, Tone 2 Band, DJ Busted, 21st BAND, Pageboys, Dancing Bodies, Guyz N Flizicks, 10 Sexy Bordz, Jeremiah Saavedra, Ray Paulo Cahulugan and the Zamboanga Hermosa Chorale and part of the simultaneous celebration of Amnesty Philippines.

Similar events were also held at Luneta Park in Manila and Quezon Park in Dumaguete City, and 60 other countries as well.

Security Bank acquires Premiere Development Bank

MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Jun 2, 2011) – Security Bank announced on Thursday its acquisition of 98% of outstanding capital stock of Premiere Development Bank and its intention to acquire the remaining 2% of outstanding shares.

It said the transaction was priced at P1.3 billion or 1.6x book value of Premiere Bank as of December 2010.

Premiere Development Bank is a private development bank incorporated in 1960 by Dr Procopio Reyes under the name of Pasay City Development Bank. Its head office is located at EDSA corner Magallanes Avenue in Makati City.

The major selling shareholders of Premiere Bank include the Puyat-Reyes Family, the Madrigal-Gonzales Family and the Rohatyn Group, a New York-based private investment firm specializing in emerging markets with $3 billion in funds under management.

Security Bank’s acquisition of Premiere Bank is part of its strategic plan to expand its branch network, build its loan portfolio and expand its customer base.

“Combining our people and resources, our two banks will continue to grow and provide the exceptional customer service we’ve always been known for in the banking community,” Alberto Villarosa, Security Bank President and CEO, said in a statement sent to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.

In a separate statement, Herminio Famatigan, Jr., Premiere Bank President and CEO, said: “The sale of Premiere Bank to Security Bank marks the culmination of a very effective partnership between The Rohatyn Group, the Puyat-Reyes family, the Madrigal-Gonzales family, and the bank’s senior management.”

“The four-year partnership has grown Premiere Bank by three times in terms of assets and, in the process, produced considerable added value for its shareholders. At this stage of Premiere Bank’s development, its shareholders are best served if the bank becomes part of a larger banking franchise.”

The acquisition of Premiere Bank will complement Security Bank’s existing operations with a loan portfolio estimated at P3 billion and 20,000 loan customers, 37,000 depositors with an estimated P4.5 billion in deposits.

Premiere Bank’s branch network is comprised of 21 branches in and around Metro Manila and 17 branches in the provinces of Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, Cavite and Batangas.

Villarosa said: “The purchase of Premiere Bank would immediately expand our branch network by 30% to 170 branches and effectively increase our presence and competitive stance in the consumer, small and mid-sized business segments.”

The acquisition comes at the heels of Security Bank’s recently forged joint venture establishing a leasing company with Marubeni Corp. of Japan.

Security Bank is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.

Canadian Priest Works Miracles In Zamboanga

Canadian priest, Fr Arthur Winikoff, plays with some of Filipino orphans staying at the Saint Francis House in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner)

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Jun 1, 2011) – A Canadian priest, the Reverend Father Arthur Winikoff, continues to make miracles for tens of dozens of children over the last two decades in the southern Filipino city called Zamboanga in Mindanao island.

The priest, who arrived in Zamboanga in 1987, founded the Saint Francis House, an orphanage for street and abandoned children. Father Winikoff, of the ‘Our Blessed Mother of Victory Mission Foundation Incorporated, has worked tremendously hard - harder still to take care of the children all those long years and up to now.

He started his missionary work by going around at night in Zamboanga and bringing with him hot porridge and freshly-baked bread and giving every single street child and the hungry food to fill their empty stomachs and offered them home and new hope in life in God’s care and mercy.

“Thank God and to all those who continue to help,” he says, as he cites the passage in the Holy Bible – Matthew Chapter 25, Verse 40 - “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me.”

The 62-year old Father Winikoff says the vision of the Saint Francis House is to promote the Kingdom of God - both in words and deeds - especially through the service to those most in need.

“Our main apostolate is with the less fortunate children – the out of school youth, orphans, abandoned and neglected children, abused kids, street urchins.”

“Our aim is to give these children a dignified and brighter future – a future they can in turn offer to their very own children,” he says.

Father Winikoff says the mission of the orphanage is to provide the children with a decent home where they can have stability - a sense of permanence and an atmosphere of love.

The children, he says, are provided with dedicated staff, nourishing food, adequate clothing, medical attention and suitable education. “Most importantly, they are provided with a good moral atmosphere where their emotional and spiritual needs can be met,” he says.

Many children at the orphan house say they are happy with Father Winikoff, who acts as their friend, brother and father – all rolled into one – one good priest.

Now, with almost 100 wards in his care, some of them have already finished school, some have jobs of their own – but they still have one thing in common – they all return to Saint Francis House to volunteer in their free time, to teach and take care of the children.

One of the orphans is now studying at a law school in Zamboanga City. The others are enrolled at computer schools. And one has completed a degree in Social Work.

“Saint Francis House will continue to provide the children of God not only shelter, love and care, but also education so as to prepare them for their future. And most importantly, we want the children to always value God from whom we can always find peace,” Father Winikoff says.

He says he wanted to put up more orphanages in Mindanao to help poor children in the streets, but times are also difficult nowadays as Saint Francis House continues to exist through donations made by people with big heart and by benevolent organizations.

Saint Francis House spends over half a million pesos every month for the operation of the orphanage. “Just like Saint Francis of Assisi, I always beg for help so that we can continue taking care of the poor children,” Father Winikoff says.

At the orphanage, a huge statue of Saint Francis stands by the doorway and besides the wooden figure are statues of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mother. And the whole house are laden with figures and images of Catholic Saints and dozens of plaques and framed letters and three of them were written by Philippine President Corazon Aquino – praising the Canadian priest for his strong devotion in helping the poor children.

“As long as I am still strong, I will continue to beg and beg for the welfare of the poor children,” Father Winikoff says. (Mindanao Examiner)

ARMM polls in August unconstitutional?

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Jun 1, 2011) – The holding of the elections in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in August is unconstitutional, Senator Franklin Drilon said, as lawmakers in both chambers of Congress are scrambling to pass a consolidated version of a measure postponing the ARMM elections set on August 8.

Drilon, principal author of Senate Bill 2756 seeking to defer the ARMM elections, said that the enabling law—Republic Act 9333—provides for a desynchronized election and is inconsistent with the constitutional mandate to synchronize local and national elections.

The administration-backed move to defer the ARMM polls for the purpose of synchronizing that election with the national and local elections is “actually in harmony with the intention of the Constitution to hold synchronized elections,” said Drilon in sponsoring SB 2756 which was earlier sent to the archives, but later revived to pave the way for floor deliberations.

“We cannot spend public funds for this purpose. The August 2011 ARMM elections must be canceled,” Drilon said.

Drilon also slammed critics of the bill postponing the ARMM polls, saying that the proposal does not in effect amend Republic Act 9054 or the Organic Act.

“Nowhere in the Organic Act is a specific date for the holding of regular elections prescribed. The only provision in the Organic Act that mentions a date for elections is found in the transitory provisions, Article XVIII, Section 7, which refers specifically and explicitly only to the first regular elections conducted after the adoption of the Organic Act,” Drilon said.

He said the bill setting the ARMM polls on the second Monday of May 2013 and the subsequent elections on the same date every three years “in no way amends, repeals, revises or changes any provision of the Organic Act.

Tsumani preparedness drill in Maguindanao province

Members of the Cotabato Rescue Group demonstrate their quick response during a tsunami drill in the town of Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao province. The training is also participated by the Office of the Civil Defense, Philippine Air Force, Bureau of Fire Protection, 6th Infantry Division, Department of Health, Philippine national Red Cross and local government units. (Mark Navales - Mindanao Examiner Photo)

Mindanao winners make waves in 2010 PBSP-Citibank BiD Challenge Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — Coffee, coconut sugar, cassava chips, banana fries and everything nice from Central and Eastern Mindanao have just made waves in the marketplace exhibit and awarding ceremony for the recently concluded Philippine leg of a global online business plan competition based in the Netherlands.

Coffee and healthy banana-based French fries from Davao City and healthier coco-based sugarcane substitute from Panabo City in Davao del Norte province were just three of the Top 10 winning entries of the local leg of the international Business in Development (BiD) Challenge.

But the biggest winner of the night was a transportable farming mechanism from nearby Quezon town in Bukidnon province called Mobile Cassava Processing Unit. The machine provides higher income primarily to cassava farmers in Central Mindanao by giving them access to better processing facilities right at their doorsteps.

In the local BiD Challenge organized by Citibank, the Citi Foundation, and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), the winning entry of Bukidnon entrepreneur Nathalie Arsonillo gave her the prestige to compete in the 2010 Women in Business Challenge of the Dutch BiD Network in Amsterdam slated on June 9.

In last year’s Philippine marketplace awarding for the previous BiD Challenge season, another entry from the same province became one of the 2009 finalists: corn coffee production benefitting the celebrated farmers of Sumilao town in Bukidnon - courtesy of Sumilao Agri-Enterprise (SAE) Inc. and its E-Farmers entry.

'Coffee for Peace,' fronting Matina Town Square in Davao City, and banana fries manufacturer, GUV Nutrifies of nearby Santa Ana District were announced as two of the 10 top winners on May 30 at the Rockwell Tent in Makati City during the PBSP-Citibank BiD Challenge Philippines marketplace and awarding.

Another winning entry from the Davao region was coco-sugar substitute maker 'Healthy Sweets' of Panabo town in Davao del Norte, rendering another winner for health-conscious sugar like the muscovado variety as those manufactured by previous BiD Challenge finalist Global Organic and Wellness Corporation (Glowcorp).

Also called 'Factory Goes to the Farmer,' - the winning mobile cassava processing entry will represent the Philippines and the rest of Asia to compete with two entries from Uganda to represent Africa and two other entries from Peru to represent Latin America, plus a special runner-up entry from Afghanistan.

The finalists are expected to “get access to a network of more than 36,000 like-minded entrepreneurs, coaches, and investors” from all over the world, as well as “win tailor-made advisory services worth €5,000 from UnitedSucces, the worldwide network for business women owners,” according to the Dutch BiD Network.

The final event for the 2010-2011 Women in Business Challenge will be held on June 9 at Pakhuis de Zwijger in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

For the second year in a row when another Filipina has made it to the Netherlands competition, women entrepreneurs who have made a difference in combining profit and helping reduce poverty in the world’s developing nations will compete in the second edition of the BiD Women in Business Challenge this season.

Previously, costume jewelry designer Marianne Olano, of Baycrafts, based in Naga town in Camarines Sur province, won the special BiD Women in Retail Business Challenge plus €10,000 from Dutch financial group ING, for her designs made from indigenous and synthetic materials such as pearls, wood, fiber, seeds, crystals, and glass.

Also in the last BiD season international awarding in The Hague in the Netherlands, the partnership of Filipina entrepreneurs Maria Lourdes Molina, from Loot Fairy Toys, in Manila, and Maria Mina Lacson, of Cebu, became the finalists in the BiD Women in Business Challenge.

Specializing in eco-friendly and non-toxic toys for children called Ecobloks, their entry helped idle woodworkers and found use for wood scrap from makers of wooden slippers and furniture by transforming these materials into wooden toy building blocks made from scrap mahogany and pine wood — unpainted and lead-free.

In the 2008 BiD Challenge international marketplace, the Philippine winner and the country’s main entry to the international BiD competition in the Netherlands eventually won the grand prize in 2009.

'Rags2Riches,' the grand prize winner of the 2008 BiD international award, specialized in transforming scrap fabric into bags from the designs of renowned Filipino designers Rajo Laurel and Amina Aranaz, benefitting women weavers from the Payatas dumpsite in Quezon City as producers of these bags.

The new winner of the BiD Women in Business Challenge from Bukidnon represents the Sustainable Growth for Rural Venture Incorporated. (SUGRUVI) An assembler of cassava farmers, SUGRUVI consolidates and processes the farmers’ dry chips into granules before delivery as animal feeds to San Miguel Foods Inc. (SMFI).

During the markets trade fair at Fort Bonifacio Global City in Taguig on February 25, exhibitors revealed that cassava farmers from Bukidnon had benefitted as part of the value chain systems of SMFI, with their cassava supplies as the principal tapioca (sago) ingredient of San Miguel Pure Foods.

The company had also assisted farmers of sweet potato, corn, and sorghum from Cauayan, Isabela in Northeastern Luzon to Surallah, South Cotabato and the Zamboanga Peninsula in Mindanao.

Through the “agro-industrial integrated cycle” for its cassava and other food crop value chain system, the company had helped extract tapioca from the crops of cassava farmers to be made into chips and pellets for animal feeds and for alcohol ingredients as an alternate to molasses.

Tapioca starch is widely used as main food ingredient in pearl shakes, instant noodles, liquid seasoning, and monosodium glutamate, and as an alternate sweetener in fruit jams, canned fruits, and beverage drinks. (Mitch Confesor)