Zamboanga journalists elect new press club officers

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 14, 2011) – Members of the tri-media under the Zamboanga Press Club, Incorporated have elected their new set of officers in Zamboanga City in Mindanao.

The annual elections brought together journalists from various outfits in Zamboanga to elect the new set of officials that would run the press club.

Those elected were Philip Abuy (dxXX) - President; Jimmy Villaflores (Daily Zamboanga Times/Radio Agong) - Executive Vice-President; Monch Follosco (Zamboanga Today) - Vice-President for Print; Elsie Molina (Radyo Ng Bayan) - Vice-President for Radio; Nonong Santiago (Zamboanga Today/GMA News) - Vice President for TV; Anne Soberano (Bombo Radyo) - Secretary; Jayvee Francisco (dxVP/GMA News) - Treasurer; Richard Falcatan - Auditor; Bong Garcia - Chairman of the Board.

And the new members elected to the Board of Directors were are Hader Glang (Zamboanga Today), Hermie Ventura (dxXX/GBPI-TV11), Joey Bautista (City Hall), Teodyver Arquiza (RMN), Paul Reales (ABS-CBN), Victor Campaner (dxXX) and Gerry Lacastesantos (dxXX). (Mindanao Examiner)

Filipino broadcaster killed

MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 13, 2011) – Gunmen shot dead a radio broadcaster in an attack Monday in the Philippine city of Iriga, police and media groups said.

The 49-year old victim, Romeo Olea, was on his way to work when shot by two motorcycle gunmen. Olea, from radio station dzEB, was rushed to hospital but he had been declared dead by doctors.

The motive of the killing was unknown, but police said they recovered slugs from a 9mm automatic pistol believed used in shooting Olea.

Media groups have condemned the killing and urged the police to track down and arrest the assailants.

More than 100 journalists had been killed over the last three decades in the Philippines, once tagged as the most dangerous place for journalists after Iraq. (Mindanao Examiner)

House approves bill creating local shelter boards nationwide

CALAPAN CITY - A proposed law creating a local housing board in every city and municipality to provide the people with adequate quality but affordable social housing nationwide has been approved recently on the third and final reading by the House of Representatives.

In a press statement released here the other day, Oriental Mindoro 1st District Congressman Rodolfo Valencia, chairman of the House committee on housing and urban development, stated that House Bill 4505, which he co-authored with Rep. Edwin Olivarez (1st District, Parañaque City), will give local government units (LGUs) more power, authority and responsibilities particularly, with regards to the provision of housing in their respective localities.

According to Congressman Valencia, once the bill becomes a law, it will provide the administrative machinery that shall complement the efforts of shelter agencies to effect the full implementation of Republic Act No. 7279, or the Urban Development and Housing Act, as part of the solution to the problem of homelessness among many Filipinos.

Olivarez, on the other hand, said the bill, to be known as the "Local Housing Board Act of 2011," shall ensure greater and more effective multi-sectoral participation with regard to housing programs.

The bill, it was also learned, mandates the establishment of a Special Housing Trust Fund which shall come from the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA), the amount of which shall be determined by the LGU and proceeds from the collection of the additional one-half percent tax on real estate.

Other sources of funds to support the operations of the Local Housing Board (LHB) shall come from various sources intended for housing and other related development programs and payments, remittances, accrued interest and other fees generated from housing related activities, Olivarez stated.

Rep. Rodolfo Biazon (Lone District, Muntinlupa City), another author of the bill, said there is really a need for a specialized body in the LGUs that shall ensure the faithful and proactive execution of housing programs at the local level.

"There is an urgent need to hasten the delivery of shelter services to our people, especially those who need it most," Biazon said.

Rep. Joseph Victor Ejercito (Lone District, San Juan City), another proponent of the bill, said there is also a need to institutionalize multi-sectoral representation in local housing initiatives.

Under the measure, the creation of a Local Housing Board in every city and 1st and 3rd class municipalities is mandated, provided that 4th and 5th class municipalities may create their own LHB if they so desire for the purpose of formulating, implementing and monitoring policies on the provision of housing and on the observance of a just and humane procedure in cases of eviction and/or demolition at the local level.

The bill also provides for the creation of a Housing and Urban Development Officer who will implement the policies, plans and programs formulated by the LHB.

Also, the measure devolves the function of clearinghouse for eviction and/or demolition from the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor to the LHB, for it to oversee the implementation of a just and humane manner of eviction and or demolition pursuant to Section 28 of RA 7279. (J.R. Mahusay and Louie Cueto)

Ethnic tribesman in Zamboanga is world smallest, says Guinness

Junrey Balawing stands side by side with the family rooster in Zamboanga del Norte's Sindangan town in this photo posted from the website of the Guinness Book of World Records. Link: http://community.guinnessworldrecords.com/_Worlds-shortest-man-All-you-need-to-know-about-Junrey-Balawing/blog/4001902/7691.html

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 12, 2011) – An ethnic Subanen man that stands bare 24 inches was named as the world’s smallest by the Guinness Book of World Records.

The 18-year old Junrey Balawing, who lives in the coastal town of Sindangan, was officially included in the record book on Sunday, which coincided with his birthday that fell on the anniversary of the Philippines 113 Independence Day.

The man stood just a little over her sister’s knees and almost the size of the family rooster, but his new found fame brought extra media attention after several teams from Guinness went all the way to the province to confirm the record.

His neighbors were also surprised by the attention Junrey was getting from local and foreign press since they knew little or none at all about the Guinness Book of World Records.

And with fame, the man’s family hoped to get medical attention for Junrey, who according to local doctors could be suffering from endocrine imbalance and lack of growth hormone.

Junrey could hardly walk because of his condition and never went to school, and like other normal children in the neighborhood, would like to spend some time vacationing, but the family is poor and his father Reynaldo works as a freelance carpenter, while his wife looks after their children.

But for Junrey’s father, the son is their king – his name taken from the month in June that he was born, and Rey, the Spanish word for King – that will bring new hope that his eldest son would find happiness in his life despite his being the smallest man in the world. (Mindanao Examiner)

Isang Maalab na Pagbati sa ika-113 Kalayaan ng Pilipinas

Isang Maalab na Pagbati sa ika-113 Kalayaan ng Pilipinas. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas, Mabuhay ang Pilipino!

Zamboanga ecozone a P50M white elephant, says COA: Philippine Daily Inquirer

AT LEAST P50 million in public funds had been misused, and wasted at the Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone Authority, the Commission on Audit (COA) said in a report.

The money was reportedly spent on a condotel, an artificial ocean, and presidential chateau, all of which are now unused, and said to be deteriorating, said COA.

COA, in its 2010 report, also said that after 15 years, the economic zone has not achieved its goals and objectives.

Economic zone officials told COA there was no waste of funds as plans are in place to make full use of the facilities, including the condotel. Other facilities have not been completed because of lack of funds, the officials said.

COA found that the economic zone built a two-story condotel worth P25.42 million that was completed in June 2009. It was designed to house retirees and visiting investors.

Depreciation

Two years after it was built, however, the condotel is still unoccupied and unable to generate income. Its value continues to depreciate, COA said.
“There is a zero rate on return … clearly showing wastage of government resources,” it said.

COA also said other facilities, equipment and structures in the economic zone worth P24.897 million are lying idle and unable to generate income, too.

These facilities include a P2.829 million artificial ocean, a P2.458 million presidential chateau, and a P15.126 million waste water treatment and collection center.

The chateau has not been completed and has been cannibalized, while the other facilities are becoming dilapidated, the audit agency said.

“It appears that the (economic zone) authority was not able to meet the set objectives of being an economically viable free port,” said COA.

Economic zone authority officials said structures and projects in the free port have not been completed because of lack of funds.

COA, however, said the economic zone should have been more careful in handling public funds.

COA said as of Dec. 31, 2010, the authority’s total investments reached P792.8 million. It has six registered business operators and 22 leisure farm operators.

Losses

But it has also been losing money. In the last five years, its average yearly loss was P28.2 million over a P30 million per year subsidy from the government. Its average yearly income from its operations was only P4.5 million.

The poor performance was attributed to the absence of a port facility, lack of feasibility studies on infrastructure development, poor marketing strategies and lack of public acceptance.

The authority said it has been unable to meet its objectives because of its limited funding, lack of transportation, telecommunications and other facilities. (Leila B. Salaverria - Philippine Daily Inquirer)


link:http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/13588/zamboanga-ecozone-a-p50m-white-elephant-says-coa

Sulu ex-governor faces charges: Manila Bulletin

Former Sulu Governor and now the provincial Vice Governor Benjamin Loong.

MANILA, Philippines — Acting Ombudsman Orlando C. Casimiro filed Thursday criminal charges against former Sulu Governor Benjamin Loong in connection with alleged anomalous livelihood and infrastructure projects in 2007.

In a 25-page resolution submitted before the Sandiganbayan, the former provincial executive was charged with graft and corruption.

Also charged with Loong was Kanoh Hajib, Chairman of the Bawisan Multi-Purpose Cooperative.

The charge sheet showed that the provincial government entered into an agreement with the local office of the Department of Agriculture in 2006 for the construction of an ice plant with cold storage and a cassava production and post harvest facilitties costing more than P12 million.

Under the accord, the ice plant and the cassava production facility were to be managed by the the multi-purpose cooperative which was no longer operating.

The operations was taken over by BJ Coco Oil Mill owned by Loong. The ice plant and cassava production facilities were also constructed inside the BJ Coco Oil Mill.

The OMB resolution declared that “it is clearly made known that Benjamin Loong, through evident bad faith, caused undue injury to the Provincial Government of Sulu when he conferred to BJ Coco Oil Mill, Inc. the management of the two facilities."

In a sworn statement, Sulu Provincial Treasurer Jesus Cabelin, said that Loong “had ordered and instructed him on different occasions to cause the disbursement of cash advance of funds intended for the ice plant with cold storage and the cassava production facility and of funds for the construction in Maimbung, Sulu of several cold storage facilities.”

Investigation showed that there was no cash advances turned over to the Muncipality of Maimbung.

It was also alleged that several road-concrete paving projects in Sulu were funded by the Department of Public Works and Highways without the conduct of public bidding. (Jun Ramirez - Manila Bulletin)


Link: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/320942/sulu-governor-faces-graft-charges

3 dead in Cotabato flash flood

Villages in Maguindanao province in the southern Philippines are submerged in water after heavy rains overflowed rivers. (Mark Navales - Mindanao Examiner Photo)

COTABATO, Philippine (Mindanao Examiner / June 9, 2011) – Three children have drowned in a flash flood that hit the town of Pikit in North Cotabato province and affected also tens of thousands of people in neighboring Maguindanao province in the southern Philippines.

Heavy rains the past days flooded many areas in the two provinces after rivers overflowed. Officials reported flood as high as five feet in Maguindanao and that many rice and corn fields were destroyed.

“We have received reports that as many as 89,000 people were affected by the floods,” said Maguindanao Vice Governor Dustin Mastura.

He said the town mayors were ordered to assess the situation in their respective areas and to help those displaced by floods.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said a low pressure area has developed into a tropical depression and named it "Dodong." (Mindanao Examiner)

Kidnappers free 2 of 3 captives in Southern Philippines

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 9, 2011) – Philippine security officials said two of three men kidnapped in the southern province of Lanao del Norte in Mindanao island have been released.

But security forces are still searching for the lone Filipino-Chinese captive, Alexander Lim, in the province. Officials said Boyet Alumbro, an engineer and his companion Edgar Gomez, who were freed unharmed on Wednesday hours after gunmen seized them on a highway in Linamon town.

"The two were freed separately and we are still searching for third victim, Alexander Lim," Lieutenant Colonel Randoplh Cabangbang, a regional army spokesman, told the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.

He said three men who were in a truck were flagged down and seized near the village of Samboron by gunmen clad in police uniform.

“We still do not know who were behind this, but initial reports said the gunmen were all wearing a police shirt," he said.

He said the gunmen were reported fleeing towards Lanao del Sur, one of five provinces under the Muslim autonomous region.

No group has claimed responsibility for the abduction and Cabangbang did not provide details about the hostages.

Colonel Daniel Lucero, army commander in Lanao del Sur, said the truck was burned by the gunmen on a village in Marawi City where it was recovered late Wednesday.

"We recovered documents and papers belonging to Alexander Lim," he said without further elaborating.

Just last week, a Filipino engineer, Virgilio Fernandez, who overseas a road project in Basilan, also in the Muslim autonomous region, was kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf militants, near Lamitan City.

The Abu Sayyaf is still holding a resort owner, Larry Tam Delos Santos, in Basilan since December and another teenager, Nico Sebastian, is also being held by rebels in the troubled province. (Mindanao Examiner)

3 men abducted in Philippine highway

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 9, 2011) – Gunmen clad in police uniform seized three men, one of them a Filipino engineer, on a highway in the southern Philippine province of Lanao del Norte, security officials said on Thursday.

Officials said the trio – Boyet Alumbro, a private engineer; and Alexander Lim and his companion Edgar Gomez, were on a sports truck when gunmen flagged them down near the village of Samboron in the town of Linamon and seized them.

“We still do not know who were behind this, but initial reports said the gunmen were all wearing a police shirt. Our forces are tracking down the gunmen and their hostages,” said Army Lieutenant Colonel Randolph Cabangbang, a spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command.

He said the gunmen were reported fleeing towards Lanao del Sur, one of five provinces under the Muslim autonomous region.

No group has claimed responsibility for the abduction and Cabangbang did not provide details about the hostages. “We have no details yet about the victims. We are still gathering data about them,” he said.

Just last week, a Filipino engineer, Virgilio Fernandez, who overseas a road project in Basilan, also in the Muslim autonomous region, was kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf militants, near Lamitan City.

The Abu Sayyaf is still holding a resort owner, Larry Tam Delos Santos, in Basilan since December and another teenager, Nico Sebastian, is also being held by rebels in the troubled province. (Mindanao Examiner)

NGCP conducts blackout drill in the Philippines

MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 8, 2011) - The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) said it has recently completed its annual blackout simulation drills for Luzon and Mindanao power grids.

It said the drills for Visayas grid are scheduled in July.

The drills, which involve tabletop exercises and actual blackstart restoration, are done in compliance with the Philippine Grid Code, it said in a statement sent to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.

Evacuation and other emergency procedures are also part of System Operations contingency preparedness plan in the event of disasters such as earthquakes, flash floods and other acts of nature.

The tabletop exercise for the Luzon grid on April 14 was attended by more than 300 participants coming from NGCP’s System Operations and Operation and Maintenance Substation Groups, as well as various power agencies such as the Department of Energy, Energy Regulatory Commission, Meralco, Grid Management Committee, Distribution Management Committee, trading participants, and others.

A workshop, where participants reviewed and revisited the existing blackstart recovery procedures based on the specified power restoration highways such as Metro Manila, Northern Luzon, Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog and the Bicol sub-grids, was also conducted.

PinoyME and how it helped many Filipinos

Accenture volunteers Jennifer, Mia, and Alex and the Sulong Kabarangay Volunteers of Limay in Bataan province in Luzon Island.

MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 8, 2011) - One of the developing world’s most inspiring success stories has just gained a new ally - microfinance, long perceived to be the effective and sustainable tool against poverty, gets a lift with the influx of volunteers from Accenture Philippines.

Accenture Volunteers Enable Automation of Micro-finance

Microfinance is the practice of granting credit, insurance, savings and other financial services so the poor can start small businesses. Usually provided by microfinance institutions (MFIs), it lessens poverty by boosting income, which in turn provides access to food, health services, housing, and education.

While capital is considered to be the lifeblood of microfinance, every microfinance practitioner knows it requires more than funds to generate an impact in poverty alleviation. Lifting lives from poverty calls for dedication and patience—you have to be selfless in sharing your talents and knowledge.

It is hence inspiring to meet people like Alexander Anden, Jennifer Meily, and Mia Taroy—Accenture Philippines volunteers who are taking time off work to contribute their expertise to make microfinance a more successful tool against poverty.

Accenture is a global company that provides consulting services in business process outsourcing. Accenture has been active in the Philippines since 1985, and now employs about 20,000 staff in the country.

Alex, Jennifer, and Mia are the first batch of Accenture staff who will serve as pro bono consultants to MFIs seeking to automate their existing operations and client information. They are currently providing technical advice to help automate accounting and collection systems and data backup and documentation processes for Bicol MFIs to achieve greater efficiency.

They also served as the resource persons for the management information system (MIS) training. MIS is a general term for the system of organizing and managing information about one’s business operations. The training seeks to provide MFI workers with a perspective on how to apply information technology to this essential aspect of microfinance operation.

Dan Songco, president and CEO of the PinoyME Foundation, a social investment banking entity for MFIs, explained: “The training gives the MFIs a perspective on what it takes to have an automated system. PinoyME has conducted trainings like this before, but without the consultant we were not able to track its effect on the operations of the MFIs.”

“This is a unique intervention because no one else is doing this. We’ve had a lot of discoveries in our past training workshops, and one of them is how important the MIS is to both the MFI and the client. If you have a weak system, you would not know if your MFI is already suffering losses. That’s critical and what’s even more critical is computerizing that system. We’ve heard a lot of horror stories of MFIs hiring consultants to design software only to find out that it does not compliment their operations,” he said.

“The course helps them understand, ‘If you want to automate this is how to do it’. If we are able to help MFIs systematize their MIS, then we can really make the industry more efficient and we can make it grow faster and reach more poor people. The big MFIs can already afford to buy software and hire consultants. But there are only a few of those. The program targets the medium-sized MFIs who would not have the resources for automation. This is a strategic partnership with Accenture. We convinced Accenture that they can really make a difference in the microfinance industry if they partner with us in this program,” he added.

Bicol express

The Accenture team spent April 26 to May 6 in Bicolandia to conduct training and immerse themselves in the communities they would be serving so they would learn more about the challenges that microfinance practitioners confront.

“We needed to understand the issues to know how to help them,” said Alex.
The project brought them to Legazpi, Naga, and Camarines Sur to work with the Consuelo “Chito” Madrigal Foundation, Kolping Society Philippines, Inc., Simbag sa Pag-Asenso Inc., Rural Bank of Guinobatan, Inc., and the People’s Center for Sustainable Development, Inc.

It was their first time to visit Bicol, and they were graciously received by the MFIs. Aside from tours to the Mayon Volcano and the lava wall, Cagsaua Ruins, and Linon Hill, they were treated to mouthwatering meals of laing, Bicol express, and grilled blue marlin.

Technology is not enough

When asked to describe the information technology problems of MFIs, Jennifer said “Technology should not be seen as the only solution. While it allows you to achieve a lot of things, proper implementation of processes is still necessary,”

She related that while some MFIs hired programmers to turn out data management systems that were customized to microfinance activities, there was “no knowledge transfer.” The programmers did not provide users manuals, and so MFIs had to call on their services even for trivial operations. This brings about a great deal of delay or disorder in the work of MFIs as the programmers only drop in on the offices once or twice a week.

Moreover, employees who have left the MFIs have not properly passed on knowledge on the customized software. The MFI workers hence do not have the same proficiency in using the data management systems. Jennifer said: “If they don’t know how to use the system, the values they compute become inaccurate.”

The Accenture team is providing the MFIs with recommendations and templates to make their processes more efficient, as well as practical solutions to glitches like sites that go offline. The team is currently monitoring the implementation of the proposals.

“The solutions go beyond automation. There must be organization policies and human intervention,” Jennifer said.

Rising to the challenge

Alex, Jennifer, and Mia revealed they became part of the project after volunteering to Accenture’s Skills to Succeed Program. According to them, the program is meant to “enhance the skills of the employees, and is also a way of sharing their experience, knowledge, and skill with others.”

Aside from providing technical support, Accenture also donated one million pesos to the PinoyME Foundation for the implementation of a microenterprise financing program for the spouses or selected beneficiaries of Accenture’s security guards and custodians. Accenture’s 20,000 employees raised P200,000 while the Accenture Foundation provided P800,000 for the program.
The volunteers said the project was “challenging, but at the same time also very rewarding,”

“This is the first time for us to do consultations as our work in Accenture mostly involves testing, programming design, and production support. This is also the first time for us to handle local clients.”

Jennifer added: “We see giving the MFIs the groundwork for automation and solution planning as challenges. So we are not doing this only for the aim of the company, but also for personal development. By providing these free consultations, we are enhancing not only our skills in testing and programming, but also in dealing with people.”

“Moreover you tend to help people,” Jennifer said: “During the immersion when we met microentrepreneurs visiting the offices, we saw that if we help microfinance practitioners, in a way we are also helping struggling Filipinos improve their lives.”

PinoyME, Petron Fuel Changes in Limay, Bataan

Like dismal relics of a distant past, there are Death March markers strewn all over the roads of Bataan. These serve as firm reminders of the sacrifices of heroes, and of how brutal survival can be—civilians and soldiers forced to march for days, to sleep on open fields, drink dark and murky river water, and eat leaves and grass. The story of Bataan is one of hardship, and also of determination, of ordinary people rising and rising again against adversity, doing small acts that somehow fuel great hope and change in the country’s “Cradle of Heroes”.

Decades after the 2nd World War, the residents of Limay, Bataan are still seeing their share of struggles—this time caused by a pervasive poverty, which is atrociously widespread in the Philippines. Much like the heroes of Bataan, however, the community is taking a stand against poverty and creating livelihood opportunities with a little help from the Petron Foundation, Inc. (PFI) and the PinoyME Foundation, a non-stock, non-profit social investment entity for microfinance institutions.

Community-driven development

Luz Almazan, a community development specialist who is working with the Limay residents, explains the living conditions there: “A significant portion of Limay’s land area (about 26%) is still devoted to agriculture. Major agricultural produce is rice followed by vegetables, mangoes, bananas and rootcrops. Farming is still a source of income especially for long-time residents of the municipality. Some are also into livestock production, particularly hogs, poultry, and goats. Limay also lies along the Manila Bay and some residents rely on fishing for their livelihood. They are experiencing though a decline in the fish catch as a result of depleted natural resource.”

She adds: “While there are various opportunities for livelihood in Limay, majority of the residents within the Petron Bataan Refinery’s (PBR) fenceline barangays of Alangan and Lamo remain poor.”

The Sulong KaBarangay (SK) program started in 2009 when the PFI requested the assistance of PinoyME in “developing strategies that will enable it to contribute towards the improvement in the quality of life of the poor residing within the two immediate barangays within the PBR.”

PFI and PinoyME agreed to utilize the community-driven development (CDD) approach, a strategy that sees struggling Filipinos and their institutions as assets and partners in the pursuit of sustainable solutions to poverty.

The approach, which empowers individuals by giving control over planning decisions and investment resources to the community, has been used by both the World Bank and the Department of Social Welfare and Development in providing financial assistance to 4,000 poor barangays all over the country.

Petron provides resources for program development and implementation, while its staff participates in the projects. Moreover, it promotes linkages with local governments, and mobilizes private sector groups to support the project.

PinoyME meanwhile takes the lead in program development and implementation. It deploys field personnel who organizes the activities, and trains Petron staff in the CDD approach. Moreover, PinoyME mobilize other private and public organizations to assist in enterprise development, and documents processes to enable Petron to pursue the program.

Luz explains: “The CDD program in Limay enabled residents to take an active role in taking stock of their situation and at defining their development goals. Through community assemblies and volunteer group training sessions and meetings, they were able to prioritize some projects that they consider most important to address their community problems."

"These include vocational skills training and employment matching which they refer to as ‘Sulong Karunungan’, health and nutrition program which they refer to as ‘Sulong Kalusugan’, a community-based waste management and composting program which they refer to as ‘Sulong Kalinisan’ and a water system and irrigation program for upland farm communities which they refer to as ‘Sulong Katubigan’. The volunteers gathered the necessary information, coordinated with concerned agencies, and conducted a series of meetings to prepare the detailed program plans and budget estimates.”

Enterprise development

The volunteers in December last year gathered to discuss and plan enterprise projects for the barangays. After receiving technical assistance from PinoyME and Petron, the residents submitted business plans. The proposed enterprises can be classified into five types: There are the bigasan or sari-sari store, livestock raising such as piggery, carabao, cattle, and goat; canteen or carinderia; rag making; or services such as scrap trading and mooring/ unmooring services.

PinoyME negotiated with the Daan sa Pag-unlad Inc. (DSPI), a local microfinance institution that would serve as the conduit for the release of livelihood loans to the proponents.

DSPI met on March 4 with the potential microentrepreneurs to discuss the loans and policies. DSPI also presented in the meeting its programs, including insurance coverage for borrowers and other family members, medical mission, mass wedding, and scholarship training programs. The sari-sari store and bigasan project applicants were also informed that DSPI can provide goods instead of cash should they prefer it.
Redefining local governance?

Though the seeds of change in Limay still need to bear fruit, Luz is deeply excited about the potential impact of CDD in the lives of the residents. The people of Bataan are again rising to the challenge of a new time. Moreover, she sees the promise of the CDD to grow into a model that would redefine the roles of the barangay residents and the private sector in local governance.
“The PMEF and PFI, under the SK program have mobilized the residents as SK volunteers to collectively undertake actions towards their improvement.

The series of activities included community profiling, problem analysis, training, and planning for their development. Through the series of community-led activities, the SK volunteers identify community challenges, identify and develop projects, and prioritize projects using parameters they have defined among themselves.

“The SK volunteers are developing into becoming active partners of the Barangay Council. They are motivated with their newfound roles such as mobilizing residents for the Barangay Assemblies, taking Minutes of Meetings, discussing topics assigned to them during Barangay Assemblies, preparing their project proposals and business plans, conducting small group meetings, and all the other tasks. They have provided time and their limited resources for the conduct of the various activities assigned to them. The processes empower the volunteers to take positive and collective action to address the various challenges before them.”

Luz concludes: “The participation of volunteers and the engagement of the barangay local government unit in the definition, and eventually, implementation of community programs has the potential of redefining the concept and practice of local governance towards making it participative and increasingly accountable to the communities its covers.”

Sweet Success for PinoyME, Antique Farmers Partnership

The taste of muscovado sugar tends to linger in your tongue. Smoky, intricate, and with a lovely texture, the sugar has been a generous source of pleasure for countless coffee, chocolate cake, and gingerbread lovers.

However, people nourished by these treats rarely realize that muscovado sugar is also a source of income and hopefulness for hardworking farmers and millers. For the members of the Antique Federation of Cooperatives (AFCCUI), prosperity through diligence is grown like sugarcane in fields of muscovado sugar.

The seeds of AFCCUI were planted in 1963 when Mill Hill missionaries introduced the cooperative movement in Antique. Fifteen of 21 cooperatives joined hands in 1969 to establish AFCCUI to help strengthen cooperatives by providing services such as training, consultancy, financial intermediation, and networking. Its initiatives have generated a positive impact not only in the development of cooperatives, but also in lives of the members and other Antiquenos.

Aside from yielding profits for the farmers and banana chips producers, AFCCUI also has its own Microfinance Lending Program, which has empowered people like Richard Cajurao and Valentine Bolivar with micro-businesses that continue to flourish. Cajurao, who is married and has a child, acquired Php 3,000 from AFCCUI in 2007 as additional capital to start a sari-sari store.

His business has expanded, and he has even bought a multi-cab as service vehicle. Moreover, his saving deposit has grown from Php 150 to 7,000.
Bolivar, who has two children, also availed Php 5,000 as additional capital for a sari-sari store in the municipal wet market of San Jose, Antique. The business has flourished, and has even allowed him to buy a house and lot.

PinoyME partner

This year looks to be a fruitful one for AFCCUI as it partnered with the PinoyME Foundation, a social investment banking entity for microfinance institutions, and availed of Php 1 million to expand their muscovado sugar trading business. The loan will be funded by the global business process outsourcing company Accenture Philippines (800,000) and the PinoyME Foundation (200,000).

Tomdoly J. Antonio, general manager of AFCCUI, said: “We intend to use the funds as revolving capital for the purchase of muscovado sugar from miller/producers. Muscovado Sugar here in our province is seasonal, milling starts in the month of November and ends in March that’s why we have to stock in order to cater our market.

“Demand for muscovado sugar is getting bigger and we have started penetrating in some malls. Export market is also potential but the challenge is that we must produce organic muscovado since the demand is organic.

“Sugarcane farmers and millers could benefit from AFCCUI’s partnership with PinoyME having AFCCUI as assured market of their muscovado sugar. With continuous financial support of PinoyME, AFCCUI could absorb quality muscovado sugar with fair price.”

With the partnership, the federate built by farmers and cooperative members will become a driving force in the Philippine muscovado sugar industry.

Moreover, it will continue to develop as a force for empowerment and microfinance to help enterprising Antiqenos fulfill dreams of more prosperous lives.

Antonio said: “AFCCUI is very grateful for the financial assistance of Accenture and PinoyME. We were able to increase our inventory of muscovado sugar so we will be able to sustain our market during off season. Our business is also of great help to the sugar farmers because we were able to promote muscovado sugar in both domestic and export markets.”

Mataas na singil sa matrikula, inulan ng batikos!

Ibat-ibang grupo ang nag-rally sa Davao City sa Mindanao upang tutulan ang mataas na matrikula sa mga paaralan, at maging mga guro ay nakilahok rin upang isigaw sa pamahalaan ang kanilang hinaing. (Kuha ni Karlos Manlupig)

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 8, 2011) – Mariing binatikos ng Bagong Alyansang Makabayan sa Southern Mindanao ang mataas na matrikula ng mga unibersidad at kolehiyo sa bansa.

Nagsagawa rin ng rally sa harapan ng pribadong University of Mindanao sa Davao City ang mga ibat-ibang grupo na kaalyado ng Bayan upang ilabas ang kanilang hinaing kontra sa mga umano’y “ganid” na mga paaralan at sa lumalalang sitwasyon ng edukasyon.

“Accessible and affordable quality education as a state responsibility is provided in local and international laws, including the 1987 Philippine Constitution and the International Declaration of Human Rights. Why is this government bowing down to the “pera-pera” scheme of private schools?” tanong pa ni Franchie Buhayan, ang Deputy Secretary-General ng Bayan sa Southern Mindanao.

Maging mga guro ay nakisali na rin sa rally upang isigaw naman ang kanilang problema sa siguridad sa trabaho. Hiniling rin ng mga guro ang itigil na ang “contractual job” sa sector ng edukasyon.

Sinabi ng Commission on Higher Education na halos 300 ang mga paaralan ang nagtaas ng matrikula at kabilang dito ang 31 mula sa Davao City. (Mindanao Examiner)

Zamboanga black coral trader hunted

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 8, 2011) – Authorities were searching for a local trader accused of trying to smuggle tons of black corals and stuffed turtles believed illegally sourced in the southern Philippines.

Olivia Lim Li and her husband Lee Yu Ming are being sought to answer charges against them and several other people also accused of conniving with them.

The Senate has ordered their arrest after the couple ignored a subpoena for them to appear at an investigation being conducted by the Committee on Environment.

Authorities recently intercepted a huge cargo of black corals and stuffed turtles worth over P35 million at the black market at Manila’s harbor. The contraband came from Zamboanga City.

Immigration officials were also alerted to prevent those accused from escaping out of the country and evade the criminal charges. The couple has been previously charged in 2007 and again in 2008 in Zamboanga City for allegedly transporting marine products which the Fisheries Code, but the cases have not progressed since then for a still unknown reason, according to Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, chairman of the Committee on Environment.

Li could not be contacted in Zamboanga City and her employees would not talk to journalists. But local policemen have seized over 40 tons of black corals and other marine products from her warehouse in Zamboanga. (Mindanao Examiner)

Integrated river basin management in Mindanao pushed

A fisherman casts his net in a river in Maguindanao province in the southern Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 8, 2011) — With the rising threats of climate change, drought and other environmental risks, key river basin stakeholders in Mindanao are pushing for an integrated effort to protect and sustain the island’s fertile river basins and watersheds.

Spearheaded by the Mindanao Development Authority, key government agencies responsible for the management of Mindanao river basins are strongly pushing for a Mindanao-wide River Basin Development Roadmap that will guide towards a coordinated and sustainable river basin rehabilitation and management in Mindanao.

“Our water resources have been at risk and therefore a collaborative effort among all stakeholders is needed to protect and conserve our headwaters,” said Luwalhati Antonino, head of the Mindanao Development Authority.

Mindanao has eight major river basins - the Agus river basin, Cagayan de Oro river basin, Tagoloan river basin, Agusan river basin, Mindanao river basin (Cotabato), Tagum-Libuganon river basin, Davao river basin and Buayan-Malungan river basin.

The Mindanao River Basin and Agusan River Basin in Caraga region are among the two largest river basins in the region.

According to the Mindanao 2020 Peace and Development Framework, the region is endowed with rich ecosystems and dominated by fertile river basins and watersheds but these have been threatened by heavy reliance on extractive industries such as logging, fisheries and mining.

Mindanao 2020 said that watershed degradation in Mindanao has been largely due to heavy siltation, water pollution, unsustainable farming practices, and destruction of fish breeding grounds.

If not addressed, it will give rise to food security threats and hamper economic development. Mindanao’s total forest cover has also been rapidly denuded from 70% in 1900s to 23% in 1988 and down to six percent as of last year.

The island’s agri-based economy is also vulnerable to risks in rainfall change, El Niño and projected temperature increase.

The Mindanao 2020 highlights the need for Mindanao’s archipelagic economy to adopt an ecosystem-based approach to development planning which underscores the importance of looking at economic development and responsible stewardship of the environment as a way towards sustainable development.

“Even as we push for industrial or agribusiness development, all of these will be put to waste without protecting and ensuring sustainability of our environment,” said Joan Barrera, Supervising Economic Development Specialist of the Mindanao Development Authority.

She added that an integrated River Basin Development and Management roadmap for Mindanao anchored on the Mindanao 2020 is seen to pave the way for the conduct of studies as well as formulation of river basin programs and policies.

2 soldiers killed in NPA attack in Davao City

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 8, 2011) – Communist rebels attacked a group of army soldiers, killing two of them in the southern Philippine of Davao, officials said Wednesday.

Officials said the soldiers were transporting food aid intended for ethnic tribesmen when New People’s Army rebels ambushed them in the village of Sibulan in Toril District on Tuesday afternoon.

The ambush sparked a firefight that lasted over 45 minutes that also wounded one soldier. Officials claimed an undetermined number of rebels were either killed or wounded in the clash.

Officials said the soldiers, who belong to the 84th Infantry Battalion, were all part of the so-called “peace and development” team.

“We condemn the barbaric acts of the NPA rebels that caused the delay of delivery of basic services of the people. My soldiers will continue to serve the people and assure the safety of the innocent civilians threatened by this illegal armed group especially in the remote areas of Davao City,” Lieutenant Colonel Gabriel Viray, the battalion commander.

The rebels are fighting for decades for the establishment of a Maoist state in the largely Catholic country. (Mindanao Examiner)

TVIRD is Most Outstanding Employer in Zamboanga Peninsula

DOLE Assistant Secretary Ma. Joji Aragon (in black) hands over to TVIRD Public Affairs Director Rocky Dimaculangan the trophy signifying the company’s distinction as The Most Outstanding Employer in the Zamboanga Peninsula. Looking on are Rotary Club Zamboanga City East President Irineo Quijano (far left) and TVIRD Canatuan CReDO Officer Jane Manaog (far right). “While our company is committed to working towards enhancing the quality of life of employees and their families, TVIRD also expects them to have a strong awareness of social and environmental issues facing the industry,” Dimaculangan says.

And DOLE Region 9 Director Ponciano Ligutom and The Most Outstanding Employer trophy. Below, TVIRD employees in a staff meeting. They strictly adhere to high moral and ethical standards in the performance of their duties.

ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE, Philippines - After being proclaimed Most Oustanding Employer in Zamboanga del Norte, TVI Resource Development Philippines, Inc. (TVIRD) has also been named Most Outstanding Employer in the Zamboanga Peninsula Region.

The award was jointly conferred by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region 9, the Rotary Club of Zamboanga City-East, and the Zamboanga Peninsula Tripartite Industrial Peace Council during the Noche de Honor (Night of Honor) held at the Lantaka Hotel, Zamboanga City.

The Outstanding Employer Award is conferred on institutions that promote strong employee morale, boost efficiency, improve productivity and competitiveness, and have a great sense of social responsibility and accountability.

The award was presented to TVIRD by DOLE Assistant Secretary Ma. Joji V. Aragon, DOLE Regional Director Ponciano Ligutom and Rotary Club Zamboanga City East President Irineo Quijano in ceremonies capping the month-long celebration of the 109th Labor Month. The search’s board of judges was headed by Gloria Cecilia Bernal of the Silsilah Dialogue Movement. Other judges were Quijano; Jose Suan, Labor Sector Representative for Region 9; and Jude Mercado, NEDA Region 9 Supervising Economic Development Specialist Manolette Jude Mercado; and Quijano.

n her speech, Aragon applauded the public and private sector partnership and cooperation in Zamboanga Peninsula “for showing that business and workforce objectives are best pursued as common and shared goals and objectives.” She likewise extolled the private sector’s “concern in creating a good balance between achieving a dynamic economy and a productive, motivated workforce, which ultimately bears on individual workers’ interest and well-being, thereby achieving decent work for all.

“By honoring the best employer, we collectively take stock of what works in terms of effective business practices; what works in raising productivity and competitiveness; and what works in ensuring workers welfare,” Aragon said. “These are the important ingredients of a successfully managed and sustainable business.”

For his part, DOLE Regional Director Ligutom congratulated TVIRD by underscoring that the company’s “practice of responsible mining is a remarkable contribution in the areas of employment generation, economic growth and sustainable development.

“We challenge your entire workforce to sustain the best practices and cascade them down to your contractors/sub contractors and the community in the maintenance of industrial peace and the attainment of decent work agenda.”

TVIRD Public Affairs Director Rocky Dimaculangan and Jane Manaog of the TVIRD Canatuan Community Relations and Development Office (CReDO) received the award for the company.

“TVIRD puts great importance on its most precious intangible assets – its people,” Dimaculangan stressed. “While our company is committed to working towards enhancing the quality of life of employees and their families, TVIRD also expects them to have a strong awareness of social and environmental issues facing the industry, and to strictly adhere to high moral and ethical standards in the performance of their duties.”

“Quality of life does not only depend on the social and economic well-being of employees and their families – it is also linked to a healthy, safe and secure environment. Over the years, TVIRD has sought to promote such an environment in its operations and to build greater understanding and support for human rights, sustainable development and responsible mining into the Company’s culture.”

TVIRD, which operates a copper-zinc mine in Canatuan, Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte, represented the Manufacturing/Large Enterprise Sector of this northern Zamboanga province and bested other entries from the region, which includes the provinces of Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga City. TVIRD has over 800 employees, majority of whom are from the host province. (Ernie Rojo)

Filipino journs finish seminar on transparency, anti-corruption

More than three dozen journalists finish the “Advanced Training on Transparency and Anti-Corruption Reporting” organized by the Philippine Public Transparency Reporting Project and the National Union of the Philippines. The training was held in Kidapawan City on Monday, June 6, 2011. (Mindanao Examiner Photo - Geonarri Solmerano)

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 7, 2011) - The Philippine Public Transparency Reporting Project and the National Union of the Philippines held a one-day seminar and training for journalists in the southern Filipino city of Kidapawan.

The training on “Advanced Training on Transparency and Anti-Corruption Reporting” was part of a continuing program of the two groups aimed at helping journalists to effectively write about various issues on corruption and transparency in government.

More than three dozen journalists took the seminar. (Geonarri Solmerano)

Instant Print!

Tila hangang-hanga ang estudyanteng ito habang pinagmamasdan ang isang lalaki na naglalagay ng tatak sa uniporme sa halagang P15 pesos sa labas lamang ng isang paaralan sa Davao City sa Mindanao. Likas na magaling ang mga Pinoy sa negosyo tulad ng lalaking ito. (Kuha ni Karlos Manlupig)

House OKs bill giving credit cardholders “true cost” of payments

MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 7, 2011) - The House of Representatives passed on third and final reading a bill that would compel credit card firms to clearly indicate in their billing statements the high price that cardholders would have to pay, should they decide to settle only the minimum monthly amount due, and defer paying off their entire outstanding balance.

“We want cardholders to be fully informed that it will cost them an arm and a leg if they settle only the minimum monthly payment required (by card issuers), which is usually five percent of the full balance,” House Deputy Majority Leader and Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo, the bill’s author, said in a statement sent to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.

House Bill 4655 proposes to include the following cautionary statement on every card billing statement: “Warning: Making the minimum payment only or any amount less than the total amount due for the billing cycle/period will increase the amount of interest and other charges you pay and the time it takes to repay your balance.”

Romulo said credit card firms have been cleverly pushing consumers to settle only the minimum monthly payment required “precisely because they (card issuers) stand to collect considerably larger interest payments the longer the cardholder keeps a huge outstanding balance unpaid.”

“Our bill will give more meaning to The Truth in Lending Act, which protects the people from lack of awareness of the true cost of credit by assuring full disclosure of such cost, with a view to discouraging the uninformed use of credit to the detriment of the economy,” he said.

“The measure will also advance the State's avowed policy in The Consumer Act to protect the interests and general welfare of consumers, and to establish fair standards of conduct for business and industry, in this case for credit card firms,” he added.

Romulo’s bill would amend the 1998 Access Devices Regulation Law, or Republic Act 8484.

The bill seeks to include the following repayment information in every card billing statement:

· The number of months (rounded to the nearest month) that it would take to pay the entire amount of the outstanding balance, if the consumer pays only the required minimum monthly payments and if no further advances are made;

· The total cost to the consumer, including interest and principal payments, of paying that balance in full, if the consumer pays only the required minimum monthly payments and if no further advances are made;


· The monthly payment amount that would be required for the consumer to eliminate the outstanding balance in 36 months, if no further advances are made; and


· The total cost to the consumer, including interest and principal payments, of paying that balance in full if the consumer pays the balance over 36 months.

The bill also puts all credit card companies directly under the supervision of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilpinas (BSP). At present, only card issuers affiliated with banks are supervised by the BSP.