Oktubre 30, 2008 • 7:51 hapon
(NEWS) “The future appears gloom and bleak,” Gov. Jose Ma. R. Zubiri told the provincial board Thursday citing that the debacle of economic difficulties is real and could not be ignored.
Zubiri has proposed a P1.06 billion-2009 budget to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan but vowed to keep budgetary controls and prioritization of expenditures amidst the treat of a global recession.
He cited that the country is beset with “serious global disorder” foretelling a “downfall in the global capital market that “will not spare the Philippine economy”.
“There is an eroding confidence in the US financial market and growing discontent on the so-called American model of capitalistic economic enterprises,” Zubiri said in his introduction. Read the rest of this entry »
Inihanay sa:Bukidnon, Business, Economy, Financing in Mindanao, Governance, Investments in Mindanao, Life in the Plateau, Local Governance, Malaybalay City, Mindanao, Peace Process, Philippines, Politics, Social Security
Oktubre 16, 2008 • 2:19 umaga
The lack of medicines in Bukidnon provincial hospitals and health stations has been blamed on failures in the bidding process, more specifically to the Capitol’s low approved budget for contract (ABC) or price index.
It was reportedly pegged at 2004 rates, a provincial legislative inquiry has discovered.
This seems a simple problem of public policy. But what could be the reaction of every Jose, Caring, and Juana when they are told about this in the front lines, say, in the out patient department of public hospitals?
The public, especially the indigents, are repeatedly being told of the “no available medicines” situation despite the province’s supposed “award-winning” flagship program on health. Read the rest of this entry »
Inihanay sa:Access to Information, Bukidnon, Business, Economy, Food/Health Related, Governance, Health, Life in the Plateau, Local Governance, Malaybalay City, Mindanao, Mindanao's communities, Philippines, Social Security
Oktubre 7, 2008 • 5:52 hapon
The Bukidnon Forest Incorporated has initiated its clearance process to cut down trees in its industrial forest plantation project in Bukidnon. Read news report here.
This must be subject to scrutiny especially viewing it from the firm’s reported dismal record of reforestation since it started operating in 1989.
The firm might be good in cutting but are they as good in planting? This should be considered in the approval of its application for Environmental Compliance Certificate.
Its Industrial Forest Plantation Management Agreement (IFMA, yes silent “P”), which will expire in 2016, should be reviewed if they have cut more than they planted.
Communities near those areas subject for reforestation and cutting should be empowered to monitor this endeavor.
Inihanay sa:Agriculture, Bukidnon, Business, Economy, Environment, Governance, Indifgenous Peoples, Life in the Plateau, Local Governance, Malaybalay City, Mindanao, Mindanao's communities, Nature and Environment in Bukidnon, People Power, Philippines
Oktubre 5, 2008 • 3:26 hapon
The Bukidnon tribe is seeking endorsement from the city government of Malaybalay for its Daraghuyan ancestral domain claim over at least 4,700 hectares inside the Mt. Kitanglad Range and Natural Park. Bae Inatlawan Adelina Tarino, head claimant, said the city government’s endorsement is the last requirement for the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to process their application.
“We hope you will help us in this requirement, which is the last document we need for the application,” Tarino’s September 23 letter to Mayor Florencio Flores, said. Tarino’s letter was written in Cebuano.
Flores endorsed the request to the city council on the same day. The legislators have calendared it for October 7, Tarino said, adding Councilor Manuel Dinlayan, the council’s committee on indigenous people’s chair, assured here it will be tackled this week.
She noted the tribe’s great difficulty in acquiring an endorsement from the barangay government in Dalwangan village, where the tribe is based. Read full story here.
Inihanay sa:Access to Information, Art and Culture in Mindanao, Bukidnon, Burma, Business, Economy, Environment, Freedom, Governance, Human Rights, Indifgenous Peoples, Life in the Plateau, Local Governance, Malaybalay City, Mindanao, Mindanao's communities, People Power, Philippines, Women
Oktubre 2, 2008 • 6:01 umaga
I feed on words and the elements of composition. Writing news is my bread and butter. And I go to the field spending my meager resources to get the facts myself in an effort to get it right.
I may not be the best in what I’m doing, but I have always tried to do and give my best in every story I cover.
When I get to file my articles, I draw my motivation in the thought that I have reported about something that is useful to the community.
Sometimes, the effort is not well-rewarded. It can be called labor of love, nah, maybe labor of the stubborn-headed journalist who choose a more complicated job over comfort.
I’m cool with this as this is a life choice.
But it bleeds my heart to find some of my articles appear in other peoples’ sites and publications without attribution. Read the rest of this entry »
Inihanay sa:Access to Information, Bukidnon, Business, Mindanao, News, Philippines, Security
Setyembre 30, 2008 • 2:47 hapon
The Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has agreed to consider Bukidnon’s request for consideration in the approval of environmental compliance certificate (ECC) for projects based in the province. Read full report here.
Inihanay sa:Bukidnon, Business, Economy, Environment, Food in Mindanao, Governance, Investments in Mindanao, Life in the Plateau, Malaybalay City, Mindanao, News, Philippines
Setyembre 17, 2008 • 1:51 hapon
Inside the crowded air-conditioned bus from Davao, the faces of the passengers looked weary and their eyes looked tired. At least 15 new passengers embarked from the busy, old Valencia City terminal.
For a moment the vehicle looked like a wet public market, and then sounded like one.
The passengers settled in the vacant seats at the rear end of the bus, and then almost simultaneously released sighs of relief.
It was probably the last air-con bus to leave for Cagayan de Oro before dinner.
It was not quite relieving, however, for others who have to stand as all seats were taken. Some others were left waiting eternally at the messy terminal.
Shortly after, the bus rolled off.
Still tired, most of the passengers were silent for a moment, and another.
At the front portion of the bus, the conductor, a stocky middle-aged man with a rounded face, called on the passengers bound for Cagayan de Oro for tickets.
“Kinsa pa’y wala’y ticket diri?” he asked a column of “standing” passengers. Read the rest of this entry »
Inihanay sa:Bukidnon, Business, Davao, Economy, Every Day Mindanao, Jobs in Mindanao, Life in the Plateau, Malaybalay City, Mindanao, Mindanao's communities, Philippines, Travel and Transportation
Setyembre 12, 2008 • 2:42 umaga
At 2a.m. the city was asleep. The road was deserted. The early morning breeze engulfed the highway to freezing point.
Manong David, wrapped in his thick coat, was chilling and has stammered when I hailed his motorela cab for home. He agreed to a pakyaw rate of P35, a win-win between his P40 offer and my P30 bargain.
Even if he would have offered P50, I would have taken it. That’s definitely better than be left frozen and alone in the middle of Fortich Street early morning.
On the way, he talked of that road accident somewhere, then about the MILF, and then about trying to make both ends meet.
The casual exchange paused over a topic that seemed a suggestive attempt to make me feel guilty for haggling five pesos less.
He said the oil prices are slowly taking his sanity. He is beginning to lose hope about being able to bounce back and be able to even cross the “boundary”.
Crossing the boundary is a need of every driver. He has to cross it to be able to pay rent and earn extra money above it to be able to live.
I was able to put out courteous responses. At one point, we were trying to analyze the root cause together, something like “while we are at this, the oil firms are bloating” stuff. Read the rest of this entry »
Inihanay sa:Bukidnon, Business, Economy, Governance, Investments in Mindanao, Life in the Plateau, Local Governance, Malaybalay City, Mindanao, Philippines, Travel and Transportation
Setyembre 3, 2008 • 7:21 hapon
Facade of the under construction new Malaybalay City Public Market, subject of debate of the city council as its contractor H.R. Lopez Co., Inc. has sought a nine-month extension following a delay over legal issues
The city council has scheduled to tackle in its session on September 2 the status of the delayed construction of Malaybalay City’s new public market. Read the rest of this entry »
Inihanay sa:Bukidnon, Business, Economy, Governance, Investments in Mindanao, Life in the Plateau, Malaybalay City, Mindanao, Philippines
Setyembre 2, 2008 • 4:52 hapon
Waking up to a broadcaster howling against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front one morning, I was tempted to turn the radio off.
The grain of his voice has pestered me in my space in that corner of the house.
“Maayo ng girahon sila kay gusto man diay nila og Independence!” Gusto pa gyod nila iapil ang tibuok Bukidnon aron mohimo sila og regional government!” (It’s good to go to war with them since they wanted independence. They also like to cover the whole Bukidnon in a bid to form a regional government!).
I was really forced to get on my feet even if I only had three hours of sleep yet and dialed the radio station. Read the rest of this entry »
Inihanay sa:Access to Information, Art and Culture in Mindanao, Business, Economy, Education, Every Day Mindanao, Governance, Human Rights, Indifgenous Peoples, Justice, Local Governance, Malaybalay City, Mindanao, Mindanao Media, Mindanao's communities, Peace Process, People Power, Philippines, Politics, Safety, Security
Hunyo 27, 2008 • 12:13 hapon
At a quarter before 10p.m., the Zone 1 neighborhood in Kalasungay, a hillside village in suburban Malaybalay City was like poetry in slow motion.
The distant barking of the dogs joined the symphony of the evening choir of insects and the rhythmic touch of the wind to the leaves of the Marang. There was no other sound except those of nature.
The light coming from our bedroom flickered into the dark road side. The ice-cold breeze in the rainy season evening touched my skin like a biting fog.
It was a perfect scene to hide under the bed covers. I slipped through the double blanket where C. was already slumbering. What a beautiful sleep it would be, I told myself. Cold turned warm and light turned dark as I closed my eyes and journeyed to dreamland.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Then a scream. Read the rest of this entry »
Inihanay sa:Bukidnon, Business, Governance, Local Governance, Malaybalay City, Mindanao, Mindanao's communities, Philippines, Safety, Security
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