[NEWS] Indigenous peoples to gov’t: Don’t include us in Bangsamoro homeland

(What went wrong with the distribution of ancestral domain titles? Is the issue only about ancestral domain distribution? Why did the IP groups raise this only now? These questions remained unanswered.But hail to the IP communities for coming up with a “unified position” on this.I hope this move will not be a divisive act that could deter peace in Mindanao.)

DAVAO CITY (Courtesy of MindaNews/30 July) – The government should grant indigenous
peoples their ancestral domains instead of including them in the
Bangsamoro homeland, Datu Migketay Saway, secretary general of Panagtagbo Mindanao told MindaNews Sunday.

“We also want peace in Mindanao, but the government, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and third parties to the Mindanao peace process should be reminded that respective homelands have already been identified before by traditional peace agreements between Moro and non-Moro indigenous peoples in Mindanao,” Saway said

“There is a need for the parties talking about ancestral domain in the GRP–MILF peace process to go back and respect those agreements,” he said.

He said they are confident that the Bangsamoro and the non-Moro indigenous peoples in Mindanao can live together peacefully once they reaffirm past agreements on territories.

Panagtagbo convened the Mindanao Indigenous Peoples’ Summit in Sungko, Lantapan, Bukidnon on July 22-24, during which the lumad came up with a position paper opposing the inclusion of their territories in the Bangsamoro homeland.

Saway said the position paper, signed by 107 leaders of indigenous peoples, serves as a “reminder” to the parties of their “unified position” so that they could consider it in the final peace agreement.

Datu Al Saliling, the lumad’s representative to the government panel’s technical working group, said in an interview by MindaNews Saturday that the signatories represented 18 tribes and eight sub-tribes in Mindanao.

The position paper asked the parties in the peace talks to give attention and consider their “unified position” in order to truly achieve lasting peace and development in the island of Mindanao.

Saway said Mindanao’s indigenous peoples issued a similar position paper in 2004 but that it was not given enough attention.

He urged the government to focus on fully implementing the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA) of 1997 by granting them their ancestral domains.

Saway, however, said that the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples requires ancestral domain claimants to submit to a “burdensome” process which has crippled their claims.

Among the requirements are perimeter survey, documentation of genealogy and history, and gathering and validation of anthropological data.

“It has become too costly for us. It will take us beyond life to accomplish this,” Saway said.

He also asked the government to look into the plight of the indigenous peoples who do not even get a share of the wealth from the use of resources within their ancestral lands. (Walter I. Balane/ MindaNews)

[NEWS] Mindanao traders invited to Hawaii expo

(Six takers so far, and more are coming from Mindanao, according to organizers. Isn’t this a good sign for business in Mindanao? Give peace a chance!)

DAVAO CITY (Courtesy of MindaNews/29 July) — Showcase Mindanao in Hawaii.

The Philippines-USA Business Club (PUBC) and the Filipino Chamber of Commerce in Hawaii (FCCH) have invited Mindanao’s business sector to participate in the Philippine International Trade Exposition and Business Summit in Honolulu, Hawaii on December 12 to 16.

Ramon Escueta, PUBC chair, told MindaNews Thursday that they came over to meet with the business sector in Mindanao and invite them to the event organized as culmination of the centennial celebration of the arrival of the first Filipino migrants in Hawaii.

“We believe that the PhilTrade Expo and Business Summit will provide you with many benefits and a great opportunity to promote your products or services, expand your markets, and meet potential buyers from the United States during trade days,” the invitation read.

Expo organizers went to the Ilocos region before coming to Mindanao. They will also invite exhibitors in Cebu and Manila.

As exhibitor, the Mindanao business sector could also promote and sell products there.

Escueta said they met with the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry and leaders of the chambers of commerce and industry around Mindanao, the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Mindanao and leaders of industries like the furniture association, on July 25 and 26.

The organizers expect to have around 200 booths of domestic and Philippine exhibitors as well as buyers and professionals. The summit will also feature workshops and seminars on how to export and import to and from the United States, he said.

Participation in the expo is a vital step towards firming up mutual ties with the Hawaii business community through trade and commerce, Senator Manuel Roxas said in a statement attached to the invitation.

Vergel Adonis, who co-chairs the expo organizing committee, said six exhibitors from Mindanao have already signed a contract with them. He did not name the groups but said they were into furniture and fruit distribution.

“But the expo is open to all types of trade exhibitors,” Adonis said. He said interested exhibitors could visit the expo’s official website at http://www.philtradeexpo.com for more information. Hawaii could be a good market for Davao’s exotic fruits, Adonis said. Prospective buyers in Hawaii could market products from Mindanao and eventually invest in it, he said. The Philippines exports around $20 million of goods per year to Hawaii. (Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)

[NEWS] USEP yet to probe student’s death, ready to face charges

(I’m sure this is not only an eye opener but also a test case for administrators of state colleges and universities. How good are schools in balancing the act between campus freedom and regulation. They’ll have to juggle between this two ideals. Honestly, it isn’t pleasant to see university officials being “grilled” with questions and cynicism by the public. I for one did not want, if only it wasn’t my job, to ask Dr. Julieta Ortiz any question during the press conference. If I am not a journalist, I would let it pass for the wheels of juctice to move. But a life of a student was wasted here, and possibly many more, if issues like this do not surface for public discussion. In one way, this could serve as an eye opener not only for USEP, but also for other colleges, universities and other institutions of learning. This is also a case for study in a month when we were supposed to be “prepared for emergencies and disasters”. I pray for the soul of Cheryl, the welfare of her family. Also, prayers for the officials, teachers and students of USEP who are in the limelight of public scrutiny over this tragedy.)

USEP yet to probe student’s death, ready to face charges

DAVAO CITY (Courtesy of MindaNews / July 28) — The University of Southeastern
Philippines (USEP) could not yet establish liability over the tragic
pageant night eight days ago that scorched to death a campus beauty
contestant, university president Julieta I. Ortiz told a press
conference Friday.

But Ortiz said the university, southeastern Mindanao’s largest
state-owned higher educational institution, has assumed full
responsibility and was ready to face charges that might be filed
against them.

“The administration is taking care of the incident and assumes its
moral duty to the Sarate family,” Ortiz read USEP’s official
statement.

She said a fact-finding committee created on July 25 would be the one
to investigate the incident and identify those who should be liable.
USEP could not yet say what would be its next move because it will be
based on the findings of the committee, she added.

Sarate, 16, was a first year Bachelor of Arts major in English student
from Calinan district. She told family members she wanted to graduate
from college so she could work abroad. On June 20, according to the
statement, she joined the search for the Lady and Lord of Utopia, an
annual beauty pageant organized by the Guild of English Students. At
around 7:15 that evening, her costume caught fire from a candle used
as props along the catwalk. She was rushed to the Mindanao Burn Center
of the Davao Medical Center (DMC) and was admitted with third degree
burns. She died on July 23.

Ortiz said she did not want to preempt the results of the fact-finding
body and referred all queries regarding the details of the incident to
them. Ortiz said the investigation was due to submit a report on
August 31.

Dr. Daniel Ungay, who chaired the fact-finding committee, told
MindaNews they were yet to meet Friday afternoon to start the
investigation. The rest of the members of the committee included the
university’s chief administrative officer, the faculty club president,
secretary of the university’s board of regents, the president of the
campus’ student council and an assistant.

Ortiz said their main concern for now was to extend whatever help to
the Sarate family. She denied they were remiss of their duties and
allegedly depended on assistance from the city government.

She said they gave around P30,000 for the victim’s hospitalization,
through Cheryl’s mother. The amount included donations from the
faculty and students. She also showed photocopies of checks worth
P67,134.37 issued by the university for funeral and burial expenses of
the victim.

But the family said the school was too slow in probing the incident.
Antonio Sarate, the victim’s father, said the investigation was
started only Friday, eight days after incident, and considered as “too
long” the time, 38 days, given to the committee to finish its work.
“The administration should not delay its investigation,” he said.

Ungay said the timetable was meant to gather enough information “given
the circumstances of students who have classes”. “But we will try to
submit the report before August 31,” he said.

Alfie Keith Apalit, USEP’s Obrero Campus Student Council (OCSC)
president, said the administration should already have a stand on
liability at this time.

“The OCSC stands firm in addressing the issue on the lack of safety
measures, facilities, and the available help (first aid) that could
have prevented and or saved the life of Cheryl Sarate from that
terrible incident,” the student council’s press statement on July 27
said.

That the university did not report the incident to the fire station
accounts for some liability, Orencio B. Grado, senior fire officer of
the Bureau of Fire Protection told MindaNews Friday.

Grado, member of a BFP team investigating the incident, said they only
knew of the incident from television news. “That’s a standard
operating procedure,” he said.

“It would be most prudent for the school administration to assume
responsibility, said lawyer Ranuelo Leonar who was interviewed by
ABS-CBN radio on August 27.

He said the university could be liable for reckless imprudence
resulting to homicide because the incident happened within school
premises.

“What happened? Wasn’t there a program coordinator overseeing the
event?” he asked.

USEP’s public information office said if the committee finds anyone
liable, the university would impose appropriate administrative
penalties. “Everything now depends on the findings of the committee,
Melanie C. Pagkaliwagan,” USEP’s public information officer told
MindaNews.

“It’s an eye opener for us to fully implement our school policies,”
Ortiz told reporters, including more than a hundred students who
attended the press conference held at the social hall, where the
incident that killed Sarate was held eight days ago. (Walter I.
Balane/MindaNews)

[NEWS] Davao City vows quicker renewal of business permits

(Busines, business, business for Mindanao! I hope the improvements in doing business in any Mindanao city will go down to the level of providing more employment opportunities for the poor and improve their purchasing power and participation in the social realm. I hope this brings better living conditions too!)

Davao City vows quicker renewal of business permits

DAVAO CITY (Courtesy of MindaNews/27 July) – Renewing business permits here will be much easier by January 2007 as permits will be processed even without clearances from the Social Security System (SSS), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and PhilHealth, Atty. Jhopee A. Agustin, bureau chief, told reporters Thursday.

But it could be to the detriment of employees, said officials of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) regional office in Davao City.

At present, Agustin said, applicants for renewal have to submit clearances for payment of taxes from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), remittances for Social Security System (SSS) and PhilHealth. They also have to go through local government offices such as the City Zoning Office, the City Treasurer’s Office, Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) and the Bureau of Fire Protection. Depending on the nature of business, some applicants have to go to the City Health, Tourism and Veterinary offices.

Agustin’s proposal is not to require clearance from regulatory agencies in the approval of business permit “since all of the regulatory offices are obligated to conduct yearly inspections.”

“I recommend that the SSS, BIR, and PhilHealth clearances be no longer required and that only the barangay clearance be presented for new and renewal application as provided in the Local Government Code,” Agustin wrote in a March 23 letter to Atty. Melchor Quitain, chief, Davao City legal office, asking for legal opinion.

She said they will approve the applications for business permit renewal even without the clearances, but these will be marked with “Submission of (SSS, BIR, PhilHealth) clearances to follow.”

The business bureau, Agustin said, will not be “strict” with the clearances once the proposal is approved. “But we would still coordinate with those offices,” she said.

Agustin said they learned the scheme from the City Government of Manila. “This will cut the delay in the approval of the business permit renewal,” she said.

Christopher Silagan, marketing specialist of PhilHealth, said if the proposal is approved, it would be very difficult to track down delinquent-paying employers and this could put many employees at a disadvantage.

Silagan said among their biggest problems in ensuring coverage of employees are fraudulent employers who use deceptive payment schemes such as covering only 35% of their employees while collecting payment counterparts from all of them.

He said these employers also manipulate payrolls to show their alleged compliance.

Jonas Joseph Angala, another PhilHealth executive, told MindaNews the responsibility to pursue delinquent paying employers is theirs but admitted it is “very difficult” to pursue violators.

Angala said they seek help from the local governments through the clearing process in the renewal of business permits which is done every January. He said they understand the city government’s discretion on the matter “but there must be a way to balance between business and the coverage of employees to public health insurance”.

According to figures given by Silagan, employees of private firms account for 34% of the total of 663,780 individuals covered by PhilHealth in Southeastern Mindanao as of June 30. Individually paying members account for 38%, 11% government employees and around 2% are non-paying members, including senior citizens. (Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)

[NEWS] Halal board expected to start working in August

(I really hope this pushes through. If so, it will spur the economy in the ARMM region.
Although, how I really wish the initial Halal players for the poultry industry will not be
limited to the usual families that dominate the ARMM. I also wish the peace process
moves on and no more distractions, like the one that happened in four Maguindanao
towns last month. Right now, progress might still be unimaginable. But I’m sure that
once the field is readied and mechanisms or wheels of commerce are set, development
in Mindanao‘s poorest region would be unstoppable. I look at the Halal board and the
Halal industry potentials as one of these mechanisms. Ins’allah!)

DAVAO CITY (Courtesy of MindaNews/26 July) — A private sector-led Halal
Certification Board (HCB) is expected to be activated by August this year, to fast track development of the halal industry in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), the Local Government Support Program in the ARMM (LGSPA) said.

The HCB, it said, will be led by the ARMM Business Council and the Dar’ul Ifta, a council of senior religious leaders serving as final arbiter on matters relating to Islam, the LGSPA said in a statement.

The HCB is tasked to verify that what is declared halal is in accordance with Islamic rules of consuming only permissible food and non-food products as prescribed by the Holy Qur’an.

The Mindanao Business Council announced last week that around 15 tons of poultry products from Maguindanao are targeted as pilot shipment for halal export before the year ends. It will be shipped to the Middle East where there is a multi-billion poultry market.

The creation of the Halal board is overdue and fundamental in Halal certification in the ARMM, where majority of the country’s Muslims live, the LGSPA quoted ARMM’s trade and industry secretary, IshakMastura.

The LGSPA teamed up with the ARMM’s Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in the formation of the HCB in developing the board’s guidelines and manual of operations.

The crafting of the Halal guidelines and manual will involve consultations with the Dar’ul Ifta and provincial Mufti in the ARMM to ensure consensus that these are all in accord with Islamic
injunctions.

On May 18 in Cotabato City, ten Muftis from the ARMM provinces of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur signed a commitment to support the creation and operation of the board after studying the Koranic imperatives of halal certification and its organizational framework.

The ARMM is eyed by the Philippine government in its medium term development plan as center for the Halal industry. The region’s development is expected to benefit from the international Halal food industry with estimated value of $80 billion per year. (Walter I.
Balane /MindaNews)

[NEWS] UP eyes task force on health disasters in Mindanao

(This is a welcome move by the University of the Philippines in Mindanao. It goes beyond, and makes use of its academic mandate and influence to help Mindanao prepare for disasters. Its all around us: in Albay, Southern Luzon, Indonesia everywhere. This should parallel and dovetail with the efforts of the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) and the Regional Disaster Coordinating Councils (RDCCs), especially in capability-building for LGUs to do hazard scanning and planning in their communities. The organizers however admitted to me that they were not able to invite LGUs from the Caraga region.Also, I hope that disaster-preparedness efforts do not precipitate after the disaster-preparedness month! UP’s effort should not skim only by exploring but really push for this task force to be formed and activated.)

DAVAO CITY (Courtesy of MindaNews/25 July) — The University of the Philippines in
Mindanao is holding roundtable discussions to explore the creation of
a multi-agency task force or network to focus on health disasters and
emergencies in Mindanao.

The discussions, scheduled on July 31 at the Royal Mandaya Hotel here,
would gather local government and non-government officials from the
cities of Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Cotabato and General Santos.

The forum aims to “facilitate exchange of views and share experiences
on health disasters and emergencies and its impact on human
populations and the environment,” the UP-Min information office said.

It is organized to impart some methods to forecast health disasters
based on historical data using new research tools, said Rene Estremera
of the UP-Min information office. But Estremera said they are looking
at exploring the possibility of collaboration and integration of
efforts by various government agencies and other stakeholders. He said
they will assess at the end of the forum if the creation of a
multi-agency task force or network in Mindanao is viable.

Estremera said they are looking at a body which will study, monitor,
coordinate and focus actions on forecasting health disasters and
emergencies.

The key to dealing with disasters — whether natural or man-made — is
not to sound the alarm bell but to equip the people with appropriate
knowledge to help foster a culture of preparedness among the public,
said Allan Villanueva, project assistant.

Based on the tentative program as of July 12, Dr. Ma. Lourdes
Barrameda, emergency and humanitarian action officer of the World
Health Organization (WHO), will present a paper on “Global Health
Emergencies with Local Implications.”

Prof. Sean Fitzgerald, a UP -Min visiting lecturer from the University
of Massachusetts, will discuss “Nature and Impact of Geohazards in
Mindanao. Prof. Vicente Calag, who chairs UP-Min’s Mathematics,
Physics and Computer Science department, will present “GIS tool:
Forecasting and Monitoring Disasters and Health Emergencies.”

Expected to give reactions to the presentations are Dr. Paulyn Ubial,
Department of Health regional director in Southeastern Mindanao; Davao
City Councilor Rene Lopez, a physician; and Engr. Luis Jacinto, Davao
City director for planning.

There will be an open forum and drafting of resolutions towards the
end of the forum.

The Office of the Civi l Defense in Southeastern Mindanao, in line
with the celebration of disaster-preparedness month, told MindaNews
earlier this month they are organizing local government units in
capability-building so they could evaluate their communities’ disaster
hazards. The OCD said they will also aid communities in developing
emergency response action appropriate for the local hazards
identified. (Walter I. Balane / MindaNews)

[NEWS] Envoy eyes more Chinese investors, tourists to Davao

(I’m back blogging! But I got this busy news day. How I wish I could multiply myself. This one is about the Chinese ambassador: The Chinese are here, there and everywhere! This could be a creeping invasion, too. But well, I think this should mean more investment and employment to Mindanawons? I hope the benefits exceed the costs. This could be a renewal of centuries old of trading relationships between China and Mindanao.)

DAVAO CITY (Courtesy of MindaNews/24 July) — Impressed by “Davao’s safety,
security and cleanliness,” visiting Chinese Ambassador Li Jinjun said
he will introduce the city not only to more Chinese investors but also
to tourists.

Li made the pronouncement while meeting Vice Mayor Luis Bonguyan in a
courtesy call Monday at the city mayor’s office.

The ambassador, who first passed by Zamboanga in his first visit to
Mindanao, is in town to meet Davao’s Filipino-Chinese community and to
“see for himself the local economic and security situation in the
city.”

Speaking through an interpreter, Li said many Chinese businessmen
wanted to invest in Mindanao but are worried by the negative reports
they have heard.

But he said his visit will change the wrong impression his countrymen
harbor. “I am impressed with this beautiful city,” Li told Bonguyan.

“Davao is safer and more secure than Manila,” Li said.

He said many businessmen from mainland China are waiting for results
of his visit so they could start exploring the possibility of
investing in Davao.

He cited Davao’s role in the future of economic development in
Mindanao and the country. He said they are willing to cooperate in the
BIMP-East Asia Growth Area “where Davao plays a big role.”

Li said a group of businessmen are eyeing to put up an industrial park
in Davao City.

He also cited a plan to encourage more Chinese airlines to establish
direct routes to Davao as his country has a lot of tourists wanting to
come.

Bonguyan said even if Davao gets only a small percentage of the
Chinese tourists, it would already be good enough, considering that
Chinese tourists reach millions.

The vice mayor said Davao is exerting efforts to establish sisterhood
ties with Naning, China. The Naning mayor visited Davao last April. It
was in Naning where the Asean China Expo 2004 was held where
a Mindanao delegation was sent.

Bonguyan told Li the Filipino-Chinese community in Davao plays a big
part in the city’s economy, with many of them in control of many
industries.

He also announced the approval of the city ordinance detailing the
creation the city’s Chinatown district to “give more importance to the
culture and the role of the Filipino-Chinese community” in Davao.
(Walter I. Balane / MindaNews)

On leave from Blogosphere

..Thank you for dropping by. Be back blogging on Monday, July 24.

– WIB

[NEWS] ARMM poultry bound for the Middle East

(Of course there is good news from the ARMM. With fingers crossed, I am optimistic this will help put the region back on the business map.)

DAVAO CITY (Courtesy of MindaNews/20 July) — Around 15 tons of poultry products
from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) are being eyed as
the pilot shipment to the Middle East starting in December.

Romeo Serra, president of the Mindanao Business Council (MinBC), told
reporters Thursday that once the Philippines gets a halal
certification from a Brunei accreditation body through an agreement
with the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia Philippines East Asia Growth Area
cooperation, it will be an all systems go for the delivery of chicken
from a farm in the 123-hectare economic zone in Parang, Maguindanao to
Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

Halal, which is a way of slaughtering farm animals in accordance with
Islamic practices, involves hygienic and disease-free preparation of
foods “from farm to plate.”

Those that pass halal quality control will have labels marked with a
halal seal so Muslim consumers will be guided accordingly.

Serra said the initial volume, which is only two percent of the market
demand in the Middle East, will be a pilot export of the local halal
industry. More volume and other halal products will be exported if the
pilot shipment will be successful and once the halal accreditation
firms up.

He said that the ARMM poultry’s export to the Middle East will be the
result of cooperation among member countries in the BIMP-EAGA — using
feeds from Indonesia’s corn industry, utilizing the marketing
expertise of Malaysia and the “trusted and widely-accepted” Brunei
halal accreditation.

Serra said the ARMM’s halal certification body, including government
officials from the ARMM’s Department of Trade and Industry and the
private sector, will go to Brunei in August to work on the
accreditation.

The government’s 2004-2010 Medium Term Development Plan has envisioned
ARMM to be the halal-based food production center of the country.
(Walter I. Balane / MindaNews)

[NEWS] RP’s first: Davao prepares to implement water code

(I wasn’t really very happy with “the way” I worked on this article. I know I could have done better. But this news simply made me happy anyway. It gives a much needed relief to a growing problem of water in the provinces.

When I covered the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Bukidnon and the city councils of Malaybalay and Valencia, I met several issues concerning the issuance of water permits by NWRB using endorsements from some local adhoc representatives. The local legislators have since complained that the set up did not work very well in the interests of the province and the communities.

I’m proud Davao is poised to implement its own water code, to localize regulation, management and protection of our water resources. Just another proof that the rest of the country have a lot of things to learn from Mindanao (of course vice versa).

The news article:

DAVAO CITY (Courtesy of MindaNews/18 July) — This city will soon implement its
water ordinance, signed in 2005, with the submission of the proposed implementing rules and regulations (IRR) to Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Councilor Pilar Braga co-chair of the joint committee that prepared the rules told reporters Tuesday.

Once implemented, Davao City will be the first in the country to
localize the National Water Code to ensure protection and management of its water resources, Braga said.

Braga said it took the city around 10 years to approve the water
ordinance because it is a controversial legislation that could affect interests of big businesses that are dependent on water like softdrink companies, bottled water firms and agricultural plantations.

She said the IRR has gone through a series of deliberations involving
peoples’ organizations, non-government organizations and other stakeholders.

Braga told MindaNews it is too risky to leave to the National Water
Resources Board (NWRB) the regulation and management of local water resources. The NWRB, which is based in Metro Manila, issues the water permits nationwide.

“How could they take care of our water resources when we can’t even see
their shadows here?” Braga asked.

Braga, proponent of the ordinance, submitted the IRR through City
Administrator Wendel Avisado on June 30. Braga said they expect no big hindrance to its signing.

The IRR was prepared by a joint executive-legislative committee earlier
formed by Mayor Duterte composed of city executives, legislators, and NGO representatives.

The IRR provides for the creation of the Davao City Water Resource
Management and Protection Council which will administer and implement the water code. The council, which will have an initial fund of P3 million, will be the lead agency in coordinating, implementing and monitoring the city’s management, conservation, use, and development of its water resources.

The council will be composed of the city mayor as chair, the city administrator and other top city government officials and legislators representing committees on
environment and energy, the general manager of the Davao City Water District, the City Environment and Natural Resources Officer, City Health Officer, City Engineer, Chief of the Business Bureau, City Legal Officer and the executive director of the council.

The water council, according to the IRR, should prepare, develop, and
formulate a “comprehensive water resource management and development plan” to “ensure that sufficient and potable water will be available at a reasonable cost to the present and future generations of the city while furthering
the economic development of the city.”

Among the prohibited and regulated acts declared in the proposed IRR is
the drilling of a free-flowing or artesian well within identified protected water resource
areas from Calinan to Dacudao, Calinan to Malagos and Sirawan areas. A water resource area, defined by he proposed IRR, is the location of principal source aquifer or water sources containing huge volume of water.

Existing wells, with permits issued by the NWRB, will be secured,
capped and placed with a metering device to regulate water flow and water wastage.

No person will also be allowed to drill and operate a water well within
a water resource area or extract water from there without a clearance from the council. They will be required to install an approved measuring device.

The IRR also prohibits the putting up of solid waste disposal systems,
sanitary landfill or incinerator or garbage dump within the water resource areas. It also prohibits the construction of underground oil storage tanks within the water resource areas.

The water council, as provided by the IRR, has to consult and hold public hearings for any program, project, development structures, or any other massive land activities
that might affect the appropriation, use, exploitation, development, control and conservation or protection of water resources.

The IRR also prohibits or regulates the application of fertilizers and
pesticides or other chemicals within water resource areas.

Braga said they have proposed a meeting between the members of the
joint committee who drafted the IRR and the NWRB to agree on deputization of the city government to impose water tariff as provided in the ordinance and the IRR. The NWRB considers agriculture as the biggest user of water with 86 percent of the total use, followed by industrial firms with 8 percent and domestic use at only 6 percent.

A 1991 study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, showed
Davao was among nine cities in the Philippines considered as “water-critical areas” together with Manila, Cebu , Baguio, Angeles, Bacolod, Iloilo , Cagayan de Oro and Zamboanga. (Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)

[NEWS] “For official use” vehicles used privately in Davao, CDO

DAVAO CITY (Courtesy of MindaNews/18 July) — For private use also?

Around a hundred government vehicles in the cities of Davao and Cagayan de Oro have been monitored to be used for private purposes, the Office of the Ombudsman reported.

Lawyer Rodolfo Elman, officer in charge of the Office of the Ombudsman in Mindanao said their “Operation Red Plate” monitored the government vehicles used during weekends and parked at beaches, churches, entertainment joints and other establishments.

“Operation Red Plate,” created on May 15 throughout the country, monitored 34 vehicles used on June 10 to 12 in Cagayan de Oro and a total of 60 vehicles on July 7 to 9 and July 14 to 16 in Davao City.

The Ombudsman has since subpoenaed the suspected violators in Cagayan de Oro, Elman said, and are working with the Land Transportation Office for the registration papers of those monitored in Davao City.

But the Ombudsman will have to verify, Elman said, if the vehicles were, indeed, out on official use as indicated in the trip ticket. Government vehicles on official business have corresponding trip tickets indicating the names of passengers, time of departure and arrival, destination or routes taken.

Private use of government vehicles is considered a crime as provided in Section 3-E of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-graft and corrupt practices law. It is also an administrative offense that could result, at the maximum, to dismissal in violation of Section 4 B of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

Elman noted that violators are also made to reimburse the government for fuel, wear and tear and other costs.

Elman said violations of these laws include simple acts as delivering and fetching a child to and from school to grave offenses such as using the car for a date in a motel.

He said a patient once complained that an ambulance was not available but as it turned out, it was used by hospital personnel to transport personal belongings.

The average and most common violation, he said, is a detour from an approved destination, like going from Davao City to Tagum City and proceeding to the user’s residence in Sto. Tomas town.

Elman said many government personnel take a detour while on official business to attend to their farms and other personal purposes.

Operation Red Plate monitoring teams, Elman said, will also be sent to the cities of Tagum and General Santos and neighboring areas.

Elman, however, acknowledged that the Ombudsman cannot be in many places at the same time. He said they also rely on their partner non-government organizations (NGOs).

Before May 15, Elman said, they monitored abuses of government vehicles from reports passed by their local partners in Mindanao provinces. He also said they used to have an agreement with the Commission on Audi to report on these violations. He cited, for example, violations monitored in Surigao, and Zamboanga cities starting in the late 1990s through NGOs they have accredited as Corruption Prevention Units (CPUs).

Elman said they have partners in all Mindanao regions except in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), where they revoked the accreditation of a CPU for abuses and misrepresentation.

“But we are counting on help from the public,” Elman said, “to track the violators in their areas.” He said the mere presence of a vehicle with red plate in any area beyond office hours and during weekend is already suspicious. All government vehicles should be marked with “For official use only,” Elman said, except for vehicles used by undercover investigators.

Elman said the public could help report violations by sending text messages to mobile phone numbers 09175496241 and photos or videos to 09189156279. He said the messages should at least have information on location, time and description of the vehicle including type and color of vehicle and plate number. (Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)

Updates: I’ll start my lifestyle check with this

[From this coverage I have resolved at least two things 1) Cut on bad cholesterol by 50 percent (made a list of food in which I execute this) and 2) Exercise for at least 20 minutes (Dr. Roy Ferrer of DMC says at least 30 minutes but I want this to be realistic and solemn. So I made an action plan.) I hope the stress part and lifestyle check is adressed initially.]

‘Do you have Diabetes or the ants know better?’
By Walter I. Balane/ MindaNews (First draft)

DAVAO CITY – More people are suffering diabetes without them knowing it, diabetes expert Dr. Roy Ferrer of the government-run Davao Medical Center said in a press conference Monday announcing a forum on diabetes to mark the Diabetes Awareness Week on July 16-22.

“Mabuti pa ang Langgam, alam …DIABETES: Laban natin to” (The ants are better for they know, Diabetes: This is our fight.) is the theme of the forum on July 22 organized by DMC’s Diabetes Education and Treatment Clinic.

Ferrer, a diabetologist, said most patients only notice and take the disease seriously when they already experience complications. At that stage, he said, it won’t be easy and would be more expensive for them.

Diabetes, considered as a “silent killer disease” is the seventh highest cause of death in the country, Ferrer said, and is also among the top five causes of morbidity.

Ferrer cited a 4.2 percent prevalence rate of Diabetes and is affecting around 3.3 million of the 80 million Filipinos. He said among those at high risk are those who come from families with history of diabetes, hypertension and cardio-vascular diseases.

A person who has diabetes, Ferrer said, is like someone who just had a heart attack. He said the disease could being about more complications to a person’s health like heart and kidney diseases for it brings damage to nerves.

Mrs. Elena Zapanta, a nurse at the DMC said swollen feet and eye problems are among the common symptoms they have observed at the Diabetes Education and Treatment Clinic where they have an average of 60 patients per week and are attending to at least 2,000 walk-in patients.

He said those are only the micro-nerve symptoms, as the person takes longer to address it, the disease brings about the macro-nerve symptoms which ills the heart and kidneys.

The disease afflicts all kinds of people, Zapanta said, with patients from the rich and poor, men and women, professionals and unemployed, and young and old.

“We even have a four-year old patient recently,” she said as she stressed that the diseases chooses no one.

Ferrer cited that being in the Asia Pacific region which is a catch basin for diabetes, being a Filipino itself already puts people at risk to the disease.

With the high cost of maintenance medicine and medical attention, Ferrer said the cure to diabetes is prevention. People should live a healthy lifestyle, Ferrer said, lessen stress, exercise regularly and eat a balanced diet avoiding bad cholesterol.

“Have your blood sugar tested so you won’t come to the doctor in a stage when the symptoms are already prevailing. That would be too late,” he stressed.

Ferrer also warned the public to be careful on altering prescribed medicines on diabetes with herbal supplements advertised as if they could treat the disease. There is no assurance that they are effective, he said. With no intensive research on its effect to the body, Ferrer said, the supplements, could worsen the disease and may cause the patient more instead of saving. He advised the public to consult a physician on diabetes.

Zapanta said their weekly consultation every Tuesday would cost only P50 for first-timers and P30 for succeeding sessions, the cheapest in Davao City and a blood sugar test at only P75. Consultations for senior citizens are free of charge while indigents could avail of social welfare subsidy.

The DMC-organized forum on diabetes this Saturday, with a registration fee of P150 for food, is expected to give more information on diabetes to the public. The topics include the explanation of the disease, its complications and management. The public could also have a chance to ask questions from diabetes experts during an open forum. (Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)