DepEd-Zambo. Sur donates cash, relief goods for typhoon “Yolanda” victims

By Gideon C. Corgue

PAGADIAN CITY – As the people of the Visayas region struggle for survival in the aftermath of super typhoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan), the Department of Education (DepEd)-Zamboanga del Sur schools division has extended financial assistance and relief goods for the victims.

Dr. Arturo Bayocot, schools division superintendent, said DepEd officials, employees and teachers in the province have contributed cash and relief goods to help out the typhoon victims.  

“From our schools, districts and division office, we immediately gave voluntary contributions to the survivors of typhoon “Yolanda,” Bayocot said in a text message sent to the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-9.

“I’ve deposited P130 thousand through DepEd Office of Secretary’s trust fund account,” Bayocot disclosed.

Bayocot added “the division has collected in-kind donations and divided them among disaster stricken-areas of Zamboanga, Bohol and Tacloban.

As an expression of our deepest concern and sympathy, Bayocot said, the DepEd officials and employees are keen in helping the victims of calamities.

Bayocot cited the relief assistance given to the victims in Zamboanga siege in September where two vans of relief goods were shipped to Zamboanga for war and flood victims. (PIA9)

Pagadian Sto. Niño parish accepts donations for typhoon Yolanda survivors

By Gideon C. Corgue

PAGADIAN CITY – To help save and alleviate the sufferings of survivors of super typhoon “Yolanda” (international name, Haiyan), the Diocese of Pagadian City is now encouraging the public to give relief assistance.

In his homily on Sunday, Rev. Fr. Rico P. Sayson, Sto. Niño Cathedral parish administrator, said the great loss of life and massive destruction of homes, infrastructures and agriculture wrought by super typhoon Yolanda in Central Visayas region had encouraged the diocese to launch relief efforts for the typhoon victims.

Fr. Sayson said he already consulted Bishop Emmanuel T. Cabajar on the matter and the latter immediately ordered him to open a relief operations center at the parish.

“The bishop has ordered me to open our parish as relief operations center for the survivors of typhoon “Yolanda,” he said.

“We encourage the Catholic faithfuls to share and donate relief goods such as rice, canned goods, bottled water, medicines, etc. to the victims of typhoon “Yolanda” in the Visayas,” urged the priest.

The parish will also accept cash donations, Fr. Sayson said adding “any amount donated will be properly issued a corresponding donation receipts and shall be turned over to Bishop Cabajar.”

“The good Bishop will then turn-over the money to the Diocesan Bishop of Central Visayas to ensure that cash donations will reach the typhoon survivors,” Fr. Sayson assured. 

“In this great time of need, we need to show our support and steadfast love to the survivors,” the parish administrator stressed. (PIA9)

All is set for Nov. 25 special Barangay polls in Zamboanga

By Michael Vincent D. Cajulao

  

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The special barangay balloting in the city is all set as the City Treasurer’s Office received and inspected the election paraphernalia yesterday in front of the representatives of the local Liga ng mga Barangay and the media to make sure that all of the election paraphernalia/supplies are intact.

City Treasurer Representative Noel Angeles said the distribution of all election materials for far-flung barangays will be on Nov. 23 and for those within the city’s seven-kilometer radius will be on Nov. 24.

Among the paraphernalia checked are the first 36 bundles of official ballots for the first district and 34 for the second district, and the six bundles of election returns for the two districts.

The barangay election in the city was moved from Oct. 28 to Nov. 25 as requested by the city government due to the 23-day MNLF-Misuari group attack in the city last September.

Aside from the election paraphernalia, security measures are already in place to ensure the safe and peaceful conduct of the elections.

Police Chief Superintendent Juanito Vaño Jr., police regional office director said the police will be enforcing the same security measures as in previous elections. He also put emphasis on the implementation of the Commission on Election’s (COMELEC) gun ban.

Based on COMELEC data, the city’s first district has 213,265 registered voters with 605 clustered precincts while the second district has 199,396 voters with 578 clustered precincts. (PIA9)

RSDC 9 endorses IPC as tool to analyze food security situation

By Alma L. Tingcang

IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay - The Regional Social Development Committee (RSDC) of the Regional Development Council (RDC) 9 convened last Nov. 13 for its 4^th quarter meeting at Roderic’s Resort here to discuss the results of the Integrated Food Security Phase  Classification (IPC) survey of the National Nutrition Council (NNC).

Ms. Hygeia Ceres Catalina B. Gawe, chief of the NNC Nutrition Surveillance Division presented the results and findings of the IPC survey. She cited the factors contributing to food insecurity in Mindanao such as high poverty, high underemployment, high unemployment, increased food prices, frequent flooding and drought, high vulnerability to landslides and flashfloods, prolonged/sporadic armed conflict and others.

Among the findings was that majority of Mindanao provinces are classified as stressed and in crisis levels of food insecurity with Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga del Norte in the emergency level.

She requested RSDC 9 to endorse the use of IPC to provincial development councils as reference for identifying priorities for food security interventions and as an input to development and sectoral investment planning.

As such, there is a need to communicate the IPC analysis results for action by disseminating the IPC report for Mindanao to guide planning and delivery of strategic responses among national inter-agency groups and RSDCs to promote and improve food security in priority areas.

Nestor R. Carbonera, chairperson of RSDC 9 who presided over the meeting favorably endorsed  the IPC to be utilized and implemented in the municipal, city and provincial levels through the RDC. The body also agreed to tap the NNC as the lead agency to promote IPC in Region 9.

Meanwhile, Manolette Jude Mercado of NEDA 9 enlightened the group on the comparative advantage of the region. Zamboanga Peninsula is the 2^nd biggest mango producer next to Southern Mindanao, 3^rd in seaweed production, as well as the biggest traditional exporter of coco-based products such as coco pellets and others.

The committee also discussed plans on how to help victims of typhoon Yolanda which will also be tackled in today’s RDC meeting in Pagadian City. (PIA9)

Aquino assures the international aid for PHL are being used properly, efficiently with the launching of ‘FAiTH’

President Benigno S. Aquino III assured on Monday that the international aid for the Philippines in the wake of super typhoon "Yolanda" are being used properly and efficiently with the launching of the Foreign Aid Transparency Hub (FAiTH). 

"Throughout my presidency, we have always made it a point to abide by the pillars of good governance: transparency, accountability, and integrity. It is in light of this that we are launching “FAiTH,” which stands for Foreign Aid Transparency Hub. This can be accessed through: http://www.gov.ph/faith," the Chief Executive said in his message read by Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Monday.

The government launched on Monday the FAiTH website that is considered a groundbreaking web-based initiative that will allow the public to monitor the status of foreign assistance to the country in response to disasters and calamities. 

"FAiTH is an online portal of information on calamity aid and assistance, whether in cash or in kind, received by the Philippines from nations and multilateral organizations, as well as those coursed through our embassies abroad," the President said.

"Not only will FAiTH contain detailed information on the help that has been given to us from our friends and partners abroad; it will also track how these donations are used, if assistance is to be coursed through government agencies," the President said.

"And I take this opportunity to invite—and to encourage—international and local nongovernment organizations and groups to use the FAiTH website, and stand with us in this effort to maximize the transparency and efficiency of our collective efforts," he added.

The launch of FAiTH consists of tracking foreign aid initially for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda, and subsequently, for the victims of other calamities. The details of foreign aid can be viewed individually, per donor country or organization; and they can also be viewed as part of the full report.

"This is only one aspect of our government’s response to Typhoon Yolanda. While helping our people recover from the tragedy and rebuilding destroyed communities and infrastructure are our foremost priorities, we also know that it is important to reinforce the relationship we have with our people and with the international community," the President stressed. 

"We will do this by ensuring that the aid and assistance pledged for Filipinos will be used only to benefit Filipinos. Ultimately, FAiTH is more than a hub of information: it is an expression of appreciation for the kindness of those who stand in solidarity with our countrymen, and it is a continuation of our promise to the Filipino people: we are here only to serve you," he said. 

Tracking the status of foreign aid will be undertaken by the FAiTH Team, composed of representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Budget and Management, the Department of Finance, the Commission on Audit, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the Presidential Management Staff, and the Office of the Presidential Spokesperson-Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office. PND (pcoo)

CTO checks brgy election materials

The City Treasurer’s Office yesterday afternoon opened in public the sealed election paraphernalia that will be used in the barangay elections in Zamboanga City on November 25, to ensure that the materials are intact.

Opened in the presence of the media and representatives from the different offices were the first of 36 bundles of Official Ballots (CEF N0. 6) for District 1 and the first of 34 bundles of the same materials for District 2, and the first of three bundles (each district) of Election Returns (CEF N0.9) for both districts. All were shipped to the city Nov. 15.

Noel Angeles of the City Treasurer’s Office said the Official Ballots and the Election Returns together with the ballot boxes and other election paraphernalia will be distributed to the respective Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) on Nov. 23 for those assigned far flung barangays and Nov. 24 for those assigned in barangays within the seven-kilometer radius.

The distribution will be done at the City Coliseum in Tetuan.

Records from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) showed that District 1 has 605 clustered precincts, which is also equal to the number of Election Returns, for 213,265 total registered voters, which is also equal to the number of Official Ballots.

On the other hand, District 2 has 578 clustered precincts, which is also equal to the number of Election Returns, for 199,396 total registered voters and the same number of Official Ballots as allocated by the poll body.

Each congressional district is allocated with three bundles of Election Returns at 9 copies of 2 pages.

Other election materials include the ballot secrecy folders, indelible inks, thumbprint or fingerprint takers, ballotbox padlocks and keys and the Comelec envelopes (Forms 15, 16-16A), among others.(Vic Larato)

PA’s “Oplan Tabang Visayas” collects over 50-T kilos of relief goods

By Gideon . Corgue

LABANGAN, Zamboanga del Sur – The “Oplan Tabang Visayas,” a relief effort initiative of the Philippine Army’s (PA) 1^st Infantry Tabak Division based in this town has been able to collect some 50,793 kilos of relief goods for super typhoon “Yolanda” (international name Haiyan) survivors.

Brigadier General Felicito Virgilio Trinidad Jr., newly installed Tabak commanding officer, said during the assumption of command ceremony held here on Tuesday at Camp Major Cesar Sang-an in Barangay Pulcanan that the relief goods were comprised of 722 sacks of rice weighing 15,925 kilos, 147 cartons of sardines-2,205.5 kilos, 33 carton of noodles - 129.87 kilos, 293 cartons of bottled water - 4,219.2 kilos, 153 sacks of assorted food packs – 7,110 kilos, 21,204 kilos of assorted clothes, and 16 boxes of assorted medicines.

Trinidad stressed that “Oplan Tabang Visayas” was an offshoot of the request made by individuals and groups for the 1^st Infantry division to bring the relief goods to typhoon-devastated areas.

When super typhoon “Yolanda” hit the Central Visayas region, many kind-hearted individuals and groups have donated relief goods for the survivors.

Trinidad said “the huge volume of donations was coming from our generous donors who wholeheartedly gave their donations for the typhoon survivors.”

The Tabak commander thanked the generous donors for actively supporting the 1^st infantry division’s relief efforts saying that “the collection of the enormous volume of relief goods will not be realized sans people’s help.”

The goods are now ready to be shipped to the Visayas region.

“I would like also to thank the drop-off centers set up at the Philippine Information Agency, Gaisano Capital Mall, and City Commercial Center as well as the media for helping us in our relief efforts,” Trinidad concluded.  (PIA9)

AFP: Preparedness is a must for conflict-prone, disaster-prone communities

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IMPACT, DOH hold multi-sectoral dialogue on TB

By Alfonso T. Ruda

DIPOLOG CITY - The Department of Health (DOH) finds an ally in its campaign against the 6^th leading cause of death in the country.

This after a USAID-funded project dubbed “Innovation and Multi-Sectoral Partnerships to Achieve Control of TB” (IMPACT) has partnered with the DOH to control the disease.

The corroborative effort came about after noting that despite the intensified efforts of the government against TB, the disease still remains the top leading cause of death in the country affecting a population in the productive age of 15-54 years old.

Ms. Stepanie de la Cruz, an IMPACT Non-ARMM facilitator in Mindanao, came over recently to hold a Multi-Sectoral Stakeholders Alliance-Facilitated Dialogue at Camila Hotel here in collaboration with the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO).

In her briefer, Ms, de la Cruz said MDR-TB cases would develop when a patient failed to comply with the Direct Observation Treatment System (DOTS) or under-dosage or he/she does not regularly take the prescribed medicine in an specified number of months (6-8 months), or he/she is constant contact with an MDR-RB Patient.

DOH statistics disclosed that 75 Filipinos die of TB everyday and if left unattended, this may affect hundreds of Filipinos in a year.

The dialogue sought to improve case detection and achieve successful treatment of all tuberculosis cases, including the multi-drug resistant TB and child TB patients in the province of Zamboanga del Norte.

Third district board member Ruth Brillantes, who represented Governor Roberto Uy during the opening program, batted for a massive community participation in the campaign.

Brillantes urged the people who have a cough for more than two weeks to consult/visit the nearest health center before it gets worse. She said one of the reasons why TB remains a threat to human life is the failure of the patient to submit himself/herself for checkup and/or the failure of the patient to comply with the 6-8 months treatment period.

“What we need is behavior change to produce positive result in our campaign against TB,” Brillantes said, as she urged individuals suspected of having TB “to come out in the open and submit themselves for medical checkup or sputum examination more especially that the anti-TB medicine is free.”

According to Brilliantes, the provincial government of Zamboanga del Norte has prioritized health in its budget for 2014. She also challenged the local chief executives to take the initiative in this effort, as they are more knowledgeable on the health condition of their constituents.

Attending the said activity were representatives from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Department of Education, Philhealth, business sector, academe, Philippine Nurses Association (PNA), Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and the members of Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s committee on health. (PIA9)

Pagadian Montessori studes donate goods for typhoon Yolanda survivors

By Gideon C. Corgue

PAGADIAN CITY – Our schoolchildren are showing their heartfelt sympathy and compassion to the survivors of supertyphoon “Yolanda” by donating packed food supplies, Pagadian Montessori Center director Claribelle Maquilava told the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) in an interview yesterday.

Maquilava disclosed that a total of 10 sacks of rice and another 10 sacks of food supplies were turnedover to Maj. Ibni Saddama, the officer in charge of the Civil Military Office of the 1^st Infantry Tabak Division based in Pulacan, Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur.

The packed food supplies contained two kilos of rice, canned goods, and noodles.

Maquilava said after typhoon Yolanda had stricken the Visayas, the students suggested to her to donate relief goods for the typhoon survivors to alleviate their suffering, as this has been a common practice of our students to offer help to the victims of any disaster like what they did to the flood victims in Davao provinces last year and the recent Zamboanga siege.

The school director recalled that the school had started community service in 2007 when a fire struck Barangay Santiago that left many residents homeless and nothing to eat.

While the school was only asking the schoolchildren to bring a pack of food supply, some had brought more.

Grade 3 pupil Edison Inocencio brought to the school a sack of packed food supplies. When asked why he brought more than what was asked, he answered: I pity the typhoon victims when I saw them on TV crying and begging for food, their houses destroyed, no water, no medicines, etc.

“With the little help that we gave, we hope it will make them smile,” Inocencio curtly said.  (PIA9)

Mysterious relic surfaces from church ruins in Zambo conflict zone

By Dominic I. Sanchez

ZAMBOANGA CITY - The roofs, fixtures, and effigies of saints in Christ the King church at Martha Drive in barangay Sta. Catalina were destroyed during the height of the standoff between the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) – Misuari faction fighters and government forces, but one mysterious artifact surfaced intact.

“After clearing the area, the military presented us with this,” said Villaflores, who showed the wooden image of Jesus Christ during the groundbreaking ceremony the other day for the rebuilding of the church. 

“The statues of the saints were all destroyed, but this one was untouched.”

Villaflores shared that earlier, he had asked the pastoral council and the residents if they recognized the image, but they did not. Although it was not decided whether the image was part of the original ornaments in the church, the soldiers who cleared the area said that it was found near the altar, added Villaflores. The origin of the image remains a mystery.

The image was turned-over to the barangay BEC president Elsie Mallorca, which will now be part of the church ornaments when the rebuilding is complete.

The church will be rebuilt through the joint efforts of the city government of Zamboanga, the Archdiocese of Zamboanga and Environmental, Socio-Psychological, Economical and Religious Advancement of the Neo-Zamboangueños’ Aspirations, or ESPERANZA, an inter-faith volunteer group conceived during the height of the Zamboanga crisis which is dedicated to pursue the development goals of the multi-cultural and multi-religious sectors of the city. (PIA9)

Pilipinas Natin conducts “Balangayan” camp in Dipolog

By Mary May A Abellon

DIPOLOG CITY – Pilipinas Natin (PN)-Zamboanga del Norte Chapter celebrated its 1^st anniversary with a Balangayan Camp, a bayanihan for nation building Nov. 9-10 at  the Zamboanga del Norte National High School (ZNNHS), Turno campus this city with 186 campers and 50 PN service teams as participants.

High school students from Gulayon Integrated High School, Zamboanga Del Norte National High School, Dipolog National High School, Sicayab National High School and Dicayas Integrated School turned up to attend the said activity.

“I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to the City Division Superintendent Victorina Perez and Education Supervisor Roy Tuballa for being our partner in this activity including ZNNHS Principal Alexander Uy for allowing us to use the school as our venue, ZNNHS Department Head Susiline Cabuguas for being our guide in the area and all other teachers who are with their students,” PN regional coordinator Rico Tiquel said.

Pilipinas Natin is one of the programs pursued under the Aquino administration through the Presidential Communication Operation Office (PCOO) to build volunteerism that thrives on the people’s continuing response to the call for change.

 “The Balangayan camp aims to raise the number of volunteers in preparation for Bayani Challenge 2014 and other bayanihan activities,” Ridge Balolong, a PN volunteer explained.

Moreover, in order to motivate, inspire and build the participants’ spirit of volunteerism and leadership skills, the topics such as SANLAHI: Dakila ka Pinoy, SAMBAYANAN: Itayo ang Perlas ng Silanganan, SANDUGO: the Call to Journey Together, and SAMBAYANIHAN: Balangay ng Pagbabago, were discussed.

On the last day City Fire Marshall Senior Inspector Richard C. Timosa of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) gave lectures on the “dos and don’ts” during fire and earthquake.

“We’re able to do many good things and build friendship during the two-day camp,” declared Karen Dimacutac, another PN volunteer. (PIA9)